Neisseria



Neisseria is a genus of bacteria characterized as gram-negative aerobic diplococci. The organisms are parasitic, they do not occur in the wild. Some species are primarily pathogenic to humans and are found on the mucous membranes of the respiratory and genital tracts. Non-pathogenic species populate the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae
N. gonorrhoeae is primarily a pathogenic bacterium that causes gonorrhea.

Neisseria meningitidis
N. meningitidis is primarly pathogenic bacterium that causes invasive meningococcal disease.