Anti-Neisseria gonorrhoeae Antibody (15804)

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a gram-negative coccus and is the cause of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea with humans as its only natural host.

Although it does not produce any exotoxins, Neisseria gonorrhoeae has a wide range of virulence determinants.

The first stages of infection, which include adherence and invasion, are mediated by surface components; N.

gonorrhoeae first attaches to epithelial cells by means of its fimbriae.

After initial attachment, the bacteria enter a second stage of binding mediated by the outer membrane protein P.II (also known as Opa) which is needed for tight binding and invasion of epithelial cells.

P.II from one bacterium will bind to lipooligosaccharide of an adjacent bacterium, which allows for the construction of a small colony that may function similarly to a biofilm.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae also produces an IgA1 protease that may take part in the colonization stage.