Neisseria gonorrhoeae

General Information

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a fascinating and highly significant bacterium in the field of microbiology and medicine. This organism is the causative agent of gonorrhea, a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that affects millions of people worldwide. One of the most noteworthy aspects of N. gonorrhoeae is its ability to develop resistance to antibiotics, making it a critical subject of study for researchers aiming to combat antimicrobial resistance. N. gonorrhoeae is known for its unique ability to adhere to and invade epithelial cells, which is facilitated by its pili and outer membrane proteins. These structures not only help the bacterium attach to host tissues but also play a role in evading the host's immune system. The bacterium's genome is highly adaptable, allowing it to undergo frequent genetic changes that contribute to its survival and pathogenicity. Another important characteristic of N. gonorrhoeae is its ability to undergo antigenic variation. This means that the bacterium can alter the proteins on its surface, helping it to evade the host's immune response and persist in the host for extended periods. This property makes it particularly challenging to develop effective vaccines against gonorrhea. From a research perspective, N. gonorrhoeae serves as a model organism for studying bacterial pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, and the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Its ability to exchange genetic material with other bacteria through horizontal gene transfer further underscores its role in the spread of resistance genes. In summary, Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a highly adaptable and clinically significant pathogen that continues to pose challenges in public health due to its resistance to antibiotics and ability to evade the immune system. Its study is crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies and understanding bacterial evolution and resistance mechanisms.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a significant human pathogen known for causing the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. This bacterium is particularly interesting due to its unique characteristics and implications for public health. It is a fastidious organism, requiring enriched media for growth, which makes laboratory culture challenging. This has led to the development of specialized culture techniques and molecular methods for detection, such as nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). One of the most notable features of N. gonorrhoeae is its ability to rapidly develop antibiotic resistance. This adaptability poses a serious threat to treatment options, making it a focal point for research into antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. Studies have shown that N. gonorrhoeae can acquire resistance genes through horizontal gene transfer, which is a critical area of investigation for understanding and combating resistant strains. Additionally, N. gonorrhoeae has a complex surface structure, including pili and outer membrane proteins, which play essential roles in adherence to host cells and evasion of the immune response. These features make it a valuable model for studying host-pathogen interactions and the development of potential vaccines. The organism's ability to cause asymptomatic infections, particularly in women, further complicates its epidemiology and highlights the need for ongoing surveillance and research. In summary, Neisseria gonorrhoeae is not only a major public health concern due to its role in gonorrhea but also a critical subject of study for understanding antibiotic resistance, host-pathogen dynamics, and the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Pseudomonadota

Class: Betaproteobacteria

Order: Neisseriales

Family: Neisseriaceae

Genus: Neisseria

Species: Neisseria gonorrhoeae

NCBI ID

485

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/013/030/075/GCA_013030075.1_ASM1303007v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_013030075.1_ASM1303007v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

The bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the causative agent of gonorrhea, a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that primarily affects the urogenital tract, but can also infect the rectum and throat. This organism is known for its ability to cause infections that can lead to serious health complications if left untreated, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, which can result in infertility, and epididymitis in men. One of the significant clinical implications of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is its increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance. Strains of this bacterium have developed resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, including penicillin, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolones, making treatment increasingly challenging. The emergence of cephalosporin-resistant strains has raised concerns among public health officials, as this class of antibiotics has been the last line of defense against gonorrhea. In terms of immune evasion, Neisseria gonorrhoeae employs several strategies, including antigenic variation of its surface proteins, which helps it evade the host's immune response. This ability to change its surface antigens allows the bacterium to persist in the host and complicates vaccine development efforts. The organism is also associated with outbreaks, particularly in populations with high rates of unprotected sexual activity. Public health initiatives focus on education, screening, and treatment to control the spread of this infection. In addition to its role as a pathogen, there is ongoing research into the potential use of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vaccine development, although no effective vaccine is currently available. Understanding the biology and pathogenic mechanisms of this organism is crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies and improving public health responses to gonorrhea.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is primarily associated with the human urogenital tract, where it thrives as a pathogen responsible for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. This microorganism is adapted to the mucosal surfaces of the reproductive system, particularly in the cervix, urethra, and throat. Ecological Niches: In its natural habitat, _N. gonorrhoeae exhibits a strong preference for warm, moist environments that are rich in nutrients, which are provided by the host's bodily fluids. The organism is known to colonize epithelial cells, where it can evade the host's immune response through various mechanisms, including the alteration of its surface antigens. Interactions with Surroundings: _N. gonorrhoeae plays a significant role in the human microbiome, often interacting with other microbial species. Its presence can disrupt the balance of the normal flora, leading to dysbiosis. The organism can also engage in symbiotic relationships with other pathogens, potentially enhancing virulence and complicating treatment options._ Environmental Adaptation: This bacterium has developed several adaptations to survive in the host environment, including the ability to utilize host-derived nutrients and the formation of biofilms, which protect it from both the immune system and antibiotic treatment. Its rapid mutation rate allows it to adapt quickly to selective pressures, such as antibiotic use, making it a challenging organism to control in clinical settings.

Industrial Application

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

The microorganism Neisseria gonorrhoeae is primarily known for its role as a pathogenic bacterium responsible for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. While it is not typically associated with traditional industrial applications like other microorganisms, its study has significant implications in pharmaceutical development. Research on Neisseria gonorrhoeae has led to the development of diagnostic tests and treatments, including antibiotics that target bacterial infections. In the context of biotechnology, understanding the genetic and biochemical pathways of Neisseria gonorrhoeae can aid in the development of vaccines and novel therapeutic strategies. The organism's ability to undergo genetic transformation and its mechanisms of antibiotic resistance are critical areas of study that can inform broader applications in microbial genetics and resistance management. Moreover, the insights gained from studying Neisseria gonorrhoeae can contribute to public health initiatives aimed at controlling and preventing the spread of gonorrhea, which has implications for healthcare systems and disease management strategies. While Neisseria gonorrhoeae does not have direct applications in waste management or biofuel production, its role in understanding pathogenicity and resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatments and public health policies.

Phenotypes and Predictions

The table shows the phenotypes and predictions. Cell colors indicate the class of the value. When literature-based data is available, a checkmark (✓) indicates a correct prediction, while an ✗ indicates an incorrect prediction.

Literature-based phenotypes: 11

LLM predicted phenotypes: 2

Phenotype	High-quality annotation	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	google/gemma-7b-it	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	openchat/openchat-7b	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	google/gemini-pro-1.5	google/gemini-pro-1.5	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	google/gemini-flash-1.5	google/gemini-flash-1.5	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	google/gemini-pro	google/gemini-pro
Motility	N/A	false	false	true	true	true	false	true	false	false	true	true	false	true	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false
Gram staining	gram stain negative	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓
Aerophilicity	aerobic	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓
Animal pathogenicity	FALSE	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗
Biosafety level	biosafety level 2	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 3 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓
Health association	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Host association	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓
Plant pathogenicity	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Spore formation	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Hemolysis	gamma	beta ✗	beta ✗	beta ✗	beta ✗	beta ✗	N/A	beta ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Cell shape	coccus	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	bacillus ✗	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓

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