What Is Neisseria?

Bacterial Vaginosis, Candidiasis, Chancroid, Granuloma Inguinale, Lymplhogranloma Venereum, Mucopurulent Cervicitis, Molluscum Contagiosu, Nongonococcal Urethritis, and Trichomiasis are more STDs that not as common and not generally discussed. Chlamydia is a bacterial STD and can be contracted through vaginal and anal sex. 75% of women and 25% of men are asymptomatic. The symptoms may include abnormal genital discharge, and burning during urination. Chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics, but the antibiotics can not undo the damage done prior to treatment. If left untreated in women, up to 30% will experience pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which often causes ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. In men, causes epidiymitis, an inflammation of the testicles, which causes sterility. Infected individuals are also at a greater risk of contracting HIV. Gonorrhea is a bacterial STD that can be contracted through vaginal, anal, and/or oral sex. Though some cases may be asymptomatic, when symptoms do appear, they are often mild and usually appear within 2-10 days after exposure. The symptoms include discharge from the penis, vagina, or rectum and burning or itching during urination. Gonorrhea can also be treated and cured with antibiotics but they cannot undo the damage done prior to treatment. IF left untreated, gonorrhea can cause PID, eptopic pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pelvic

Once the gonococci gain entrance into the mucous membranes of these areas, they target columnar non-ciliated epithelial cells. Neisseria gonorrhoeae uses a type IV pilus (twitches, forms bundles and able to take up DNA) to anchor itself at the infection site. The pilE gene has been found to be the main factor for adherence to epithelial cells. In a study, missense mutations of the pilE gene revealed altered fiber morphology. PilE mutants had a defect in filament assembly, hence, less adherence to human epithelial cells. In a wild type sample there are significant interconnections of cells, then compared to a sample with a missense PilE polypeptide, we can see reduced interconnections of the cells and filamentous structure. These defects only are expressed when the pilT gene is activated.

Gonorrhea is an infection with the bacteriaum 'Nisseria gohorrhoea (GC) which causes gonorrheal infections "the second most commonly reported communicable disease" and which are "easily treated with appropriate antibiotics, but drug-resistant strains are on the rise." (Cook County Department of Health, nd)

Meningitis, also known as spinal meningitis, is a viral or bacterial infection causing inflammation of the membranes, called meninges. Meninges act as a natural protective barrier that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. When the barrier is permeable, infections are able to transmit a disease in or through and cause serious or even fatal effects. There are different causes for the different categories of meningitis resulting in different symptoms and severities in each.

Like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea can also infect the genitals and throat (Friedman & Skancke, 2009). This sexually transmitted infection affects more than 800,000 women and men every year in the United States (Shoquist & Stafford, 2004). Although symptoms are uncommon, the symptoms often experienced include vomiting, pain in the genital area, unusually thick discharge, and the urge to urinate more than usual (Sutton, 2006). Gonorrhea can lead to infertility in both men and women, and during pregnancy can lead to premature labor and stillbirth (Shoquist & Stafford,

Meningitis and encephalitis are infections that affect the brain. The two differences between them is observed in the region of the brain they infect. Both infections cause inflammation and swelling of the brain and can trigger serious effects or even death.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are sexually transmitted diseases that tend to be more apparent in males than females. Men tend to develop symptoms within days of the initial infection; they usually manifest as inflammation of the urethra, painful urination, and abnormal discharge. Symptoms are so obvious that men seek immediate medical attention before complications occur; women on the other hand, tend to have little to no symptoms at all. A female’s symptoms are so mild that they are often mistaken as a simple bladder or vaginal infection and go untreated. Unfortunately, these diseases do not go away on their own if gonorrhea and chlamydia are not properly treated

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, commonly known as gonorrhea, is a gram-negative bacteria found in the family Neisseriaceae. This proteobacteria does not form spores, cannot move (have no flagellum), are encapsulated in a bacterial capsule, and are non-acid fast. They are diplococci, found in pairs of round kidney-bean shaped bacteria. They are small, smooth and colourless with flattened sides. These obligate aerobes need oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other nutrient supplementation (usually chocolate agar) to survive. They produce the enzyme β-lactamase, allowing N. gonorrhoeae to resist certain antibiotics. There are 70 known strains of N. gonorrhoeae, and they produce colonies after 18-24 hours of incubation.

My article if from the Washington Post titled “Gonorrhea Is More Dangerous Than Ever As Resistance To Antibiotics Grows,” written by Lena Sun. According to the article, Neisseria Gonorrhoeae is a drug-resistant diplococcal (coffee bean-shaped) bacteria, which causes gonorrhea and is the second most common infectious disease in the United States. This bacteria is only found after sexual contact with an infected person after the bacteria attach to the nonciliated epithelial cells of the fallopian tube, they are surrounded by the microvilli that draw them to the surface of the mucosal cell. The types of sexual or direct contact that it can be transmitted by include oral, anal and vaginal sex.

For example; for leukocyte esterase levels, nitrite levels, microscopic evaluation, and culture of urine is an important component in most cases. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are typically used. There are two main categories of bacterial urethritis: gonorrheal and nongonococcal. Gonorrheal urethritis is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and is associated with gonorrhea, a common STI. The term nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) refers to inflammation of the urethra that is unrelated to N. gonorrhoeae. In women, NGU is often asymptomatic. In men, NGU is typically a mild disease, but can lead to purulent discharge and dysuria. Because the symptoms are often mild or nonexistent, most infected individuals do not know that they are infected, yet they are carriers of the disease. Asymptomatic patients also have no reason to seek treatment, and although not common, untreated NGU can spread to the reproductive organs, causing pelvic inflammatory disease and salpingitis in women and epididymitis and prostatitis in men. Important bacterial pathogens that cause nongonococcal urethritis include Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Mycoplasma hominis. (Lumen Microbiology)

Neisseria gonorrhoea are non-motile, coffee bean shaped bacterium usually in pairs and are about 0.6-1.0µm in size with many IV pili attached to it due to the lack of movement. The IV pili attached to the Neisseria gonorrhoea bacterium are specialised to move the bacterium cell and stick themselves to cell

Likewise, it is “gram-negative” –an indication that it possesses a “pinkish or red” colour. The Neisseria Meningitidis bacterium itself is a pathogen; meaning its bacterial composition can cause disease upon interaction. As this lethal bacterium advances into the early stages of Meningococcal, its invasiveness and toxigenicity alone can be lethal if contracted (NIHAID, 2012). As it stands, the World Health Organisation has outlined that there are over 26 countries in the sub-Saharan region alone that are overwhelmingly prone to Meningococcal (WHO, 2015). Alarmingly, the effects of this disease are not restricted to the sub-Saharan; current estimates determine that 1.2 million cases arise globally every year (Meningitis Research Foundation,

This bacterial STD can be spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Symptoms may include a yellowish or greenish vaginal discharge and a burning feeling when urinating. Gonorrhea can also affect the anus and the throat. Many women have no symptoms. Gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics. If left untreated, it can cause PID and infertility. All sexually-active women should be screened for gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea, or more commonly known as “the clap”, is an infectious disease that is spread most commonly via sexual intercourse. It is most commonly spread from males to females. Behind chlamydia, gonorrhea is the most reported sexually transmitted disease and is also the second most commonly reported notifiable disease. In 2015, 395,216 new cases of gonorrhea were reported in the United States. This sexually transmitted disease is most common among the African-American population and has higher rates of infection in the southern part of the United States (Nursing).

Chlamydia is, currently, one of the three most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases. Chlamydia is spread through vaginal or anal intercourse. It is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause severe damage if untreated. Untreated chlamydia Kinko’s and pelvic inflammatory disease which may lead to infertility. How to know if you have the Chlamydia? Some symptoms of chlamydia or unusual discharge, burning and painful urination. However, most people won’t we are allies if they have the disease unless they get tested because in most cases chlamydia can be asymptomatic. According to Paul J Clara “ more than 80% of women in their early 50% of men are asymptomatic”. Meaning that many people are unaware and can be spreading the disease without even knowing. Another common disease is gonorrhea which is caused from bacteria traveling from an infected person to another person through sexual contact. Gonorrhea can also be referred to as “the clap”. Gonorrhea has the highest rate of infected individuals and is the second most common among teenagers. Symptoms of gonorrhea and chlamydia are pretty much identical such as burning painful urination and strange discharge. According to Paul J Clara “approximately 80% of women or a symptomatic, however, more than 80% of men notice greenish/yellowish discharge from the penis”. Gonorrhea can also lead to a pelvic inflammatory disease if not properly treated. The third most common STD I chose to discuss is syphilis which is a