Neisseria cinerea
Neisseria cinerea | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
Class: | Betaproteobacteria |
Order: | Neisseriales |
Family: | Neisseriaceae |
Genus: | Neisseria |
Species: | N. cinerea
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Binomial name | |
Neisseria cinerea Knapp at al. 1984
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Neisseria cinerea is a commensal species grouped with the
Classification
Neisseria cinerea has been formerly classified as many other organisms, including
Colony morphology
One important difference between N. cinerea and N. gonorrhoeae is that N. cinerea is slightly more pigmented and exhibits a golden-brown rather than a pinkish-brown pigmentation.[2] The average diameter of N. cinerea colonies varies, but stays around 1–2 mm. The colonies are convex, translucent, and glistening. No change occurs in the color of the media used to isolate N. cinerea before or after staining with Lugol's iodine.[3]
Biochemical processes
Neisseria cinerea can produce acid from glucose like N. gonorrhoeae, but it will then oxidize the acid to carbon dioxide.[2] Although it can break down glucose, it is unable to use glucose or other carbohydrates for energy, making it asaccharolytic.[1] In addition, N. cinerea will react in coagglutination serologic tests and, like N. gonorrhoeae, it produces the enzyme hydroxyprolylaminopeptidase.[2]N. cinerea does not reduce nitrate, but it does reduce nitrite. Proline, arginine, cystine, and cysteine are required for its growth.[1] N. cinerea does not react with antigonococcal protein I monoclonal antibodies and does not produce immunoglobulin A protease, unlike N. gonorrhoeae. Also unlike N. gonorrhoeae, N. cinerea is not resistant to the antibiotic colistin, and it can grow on Mueller–Hinton agar and trypticase soy agar.[1]
Disease
Neisseria cinerea is classified as a nonpathogenic bacterium, but has been isolated from numerous infections including acute meningitis.
See also
- Sexually transmitted disease