Family Neisseriaceae

Joy P. Calayo, RMT, MSMT

UST 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 Neisseria
Neisseria BA CA NA MTM CTA 30% H2O2 ONPG
species 250C 250C 350C (CHO test
fermentation)
G—M—L
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 reactions
Organism 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 meningitis
Waterhouse Friedrichsen Syndrome
(hemorrhage of adrenal glands)
“pneumonia-like” meningococcemia

o Virulence Factor: capsule

o 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 fermenter
colorless colonies on MacConkey

 A. baumanii: carbohydrate fermenter

purple-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 - +
 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

Additional readings: Mahon