Family Neisseriaceae
Joy P. Calayo, RMT, MSMTUST Faculty of Pharmacy
Dept. of Medical Technology
Family Neisseriaceae Members:
◦ 1. Genus Neisseria N. gonorrhoeae
N. meningitidis
N. lactamica
N. sicca
N. flavescens
N. elongata (the only species that are not bean-shaped diplococci)
Family Neisseriaceae Members:
2. Genus Moraxella◦ Subgenus Branhamella catarrhalis
◦ Subgenus Moraxella lacunata
3. Genus Acinetobacter◦ A. iwoffi
◦ A. baumannii
◦ A. calcoaceticus
4. Genus Kingella (member of “HACEK”)◦ K. denitrificans
◦ K. kingae
5. Genus Sutonella◦ S. indoligenes
Genus Neisseria
Key characteristics:◦ Gm (-) bean-shaped diplococci
◦ Obligate aerobe
◦ Non-motile
◦ Oxidase (+)
◦ Catalase (+)
Pathogenic to man: N. gonorrhoeae
N. meningitidis
Normal flora: N. lactamica
N. sicca
N. flavescens
N. elongata
Virulence Factors of Pathogenic Neisseria
Pili- most important (Types I and II)
Pili Types III, IV, V: non-pathogenic
IgA protease
Endotoxin
OM proteins
Protein I
Protein II
Microscopic morphology
Microscopic morphology
Colonies on Culture Media
Identification of Genus NeisseriaNeisseriaspecies
BA 250C
CA250C
NA350C
MTM CTA(CHO
fermentation)G—M—L
30% H2O2
testONPG
gonorrhoeae -- -- -- + + - - + --
meningitidis -- -- -- + + + - - --
lactamica + or --
+ or --
+ -- + + + - +
sicca + + + -- +/d + - - --
flavescens + + + -- - - - - --
B.catarrhalis
+ + + -- - - - - --
Colonies of Family Neisseriaceae on CA
Organism Appearance
N. gonorrhoeae Gray-white
N. meningitidis Gray-white, mucoid (due to capsule)
N. lactamica Gray-white with yellow halo
N. sicca Gray-white, wrinkled, adherent, (resemble
bread crumbs)
N. flavescens Golden yellow
Branhamella catarrhalis Gray-white with wavy sides/borders (resemble wagon-wheel)
Other biochemical reactionsOrganism DNAse test NO3 (Nitrate
reduction)
Neisseria gonorrhoeae - -
Neisseria meningitidis - -
Neisseria lactamica - -
Neisseria sicca - -
Neissreia flavescens - -
Branhamella catarrhalis + +
Genus Neisseria
N. gonorrhoeae: causes STD (“tulo” or “clap”)◦ Causes neonatal gonococcal eye infection (opthalmia neonatorum); treated by 1% AgNO3
(Crede’s Prophylaxis)
Genus Neisseria
N. meningitidis: causes meningococcemia◦ Other diseases: epidemic meningitis
invasive meningitisWaterhouse Friedrichsen Syndrome (hemorrhage of adrenal glands)
“pneumonia-like” meningococcemia
o Virulence Factor: capsuleo MOT: nasopharyngeal route through droplets or person to person contact
o Rx: Penicillin
Take Note!
All members of Family Neisseriaceae are catalase (+) except Genus Sutonella
All members are oxidase (+) except Acinetobacter
Only B. catarrhalis and K. denitrificans are nitrate producers
All are non motile
Genus Moraxella
Subgenus: Branhamella catarrhalis◦ Gm (-) bean-shaped diplococci◦ Obligate aerobe◦ Non motile◦ Oxidase (+)◦ Catalase (+)
Subgenus: Moraxella lacunata◦ Same as with Branhamella, but the cells are gm (-) short coccobacilli in pairs
Genus Acinetobacter
A. iwoffi: non-carbohydrate fermentercolorless colonies on MacConkey
A. baumanii: carbohydrate fermenterpurple-lavender colonies on
MacConkey
Other characteristics: oxidase (-), gm (-) coccobacilli in pairs or in chains
Genus Kingella and Genus Sutonella
NO3 producer Indole production
K. denitrificans + -
K. kingae - -
S. indoligenes - +
Additional readings: Mahon
Chapter 17◦ Page 378: The Family Neisseriaceae
◦ Page 381: Table 17-2, Selective media for pathogenic Neisseria species
◦ Page 383: Table 17-3, Culture-based methods for ID of Neisseria and related species
◦ Page 385: Table 17-5, Characteristics of significant species of Neisseria, Moraxella, Kingella
