Bacteria Genomes - NEISSERIA GONORRHOAEA

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a species of Gram-negative cocci, usually seen in pairs with the adjacent sides flattened, it is pathogenic to humans who are its only natural host, it is responsible for the disease Gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease of worldwide importance. The highest attack rate in both men and women occurs between 15 and 29 years of age. Host-related factors such as the number of sexual partners, contraceptive practices, sexual preference, and population mobility contribute to the incidence of Gonorrhea. Neisseria gonorrhoeae can grow and multiply easily in warm, moist areas, including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women, and in the urethra in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.

Gonorrhea is spread through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus. Ejaculation does not have to occur for gonorrhea to be transmitted or acquired. Gonococci adhere to columnar epithelial cells, penetrate them, and multiply on the basement membrane. Adherence is facilitated through pili and opa proteins.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae typically infects the mucous membranes causing infections such as urethritis, cervicitis, salpingitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, proctitis, conjunctivitis and pharyngitis.

In males there is typically a 2-3 day incubation period after which a purulent discharge from the urethra and dysuria develops. Around 95% of infected males are symptomatic. Rare complications include prostatitis, epididymitis, and periurethral abcesses. Neisseria gonorrhoeae primarily infects the cervix in women however the symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild and most women who are infected have no symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they can be so non-specific as to be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. Symptoms include vaginal discharge, dysuria, and abdominal pain. Complications from an ascending infection include absesses of the ovarian tubes and pelvic inflammatory disease. Around 10%-20% of infected women develop these complications. In 1%-3% of infected women and a lower percentage of infected men the bacterium disseminates via the blood causing bacteremia and arthritis.

Gonorrhea can also be spread from mother to baby during delivery. This can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection in the infant.

Antibiotics can successfully cure gonorrhea but because many people with gonorrhea also have chlamydia, antibiotics for both infections are usually given together.

References:

http://textbookofbacteriology.net/neisseria.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neisseria_gonorrhoeae
http://www.cat.cc.md.us/courses/bio141/lecguide/unit1/prostruct/diseases/gonococcus/gonococcus.htm
http://gsbs.utmb.edu/microbook/ch014.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/std/Gonorrhea/STDFact-gonorrhea.htm