Neisseria Meningitidis
Neisseria Meningitidis - Related Videos
12:58
Visualisation and Quantification of Intracellular Interactions of Neisseria meningitidis and Human α-actinin by Confocal Imaging
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2010
Neisseria meningitidis (Nm), a gram negative human-specific respiratory pathogen, can bind to human α-actinin. Here we present a protocol for visualisation of colocalisation of the bacterium with intracellular α-actinin after bacterial entry into human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs).
10:12
Neisseria meningitidis Infection of Induced Pluripotent Stem-Cell Derived Brain Endothelial Cells
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Cited by 11 •
2020
The protocol described here highlights the major steps in the differentiating induced pluripotent stem-cell derived brain-like endothelial cells, the preparation of Neisseria meningitidis for infection, and sample collection for other molecular analyses.
02:45
Culturing Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Metal-Depleted Conditions
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2025
Source: Maurakis, S., and Cornelissen, C. N. Metal-Limited Growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae for Characterization of Metal-Responsive Genes and Metal Acquisition from Host Ligands. J. Vis. Exp. (2020)This video demonstrates the procedure for growing Neisseria gonorrhoeae under metal-limited conditions using a defined, metal-depleted medium.
03:08
Detection of the Surface Metal Transporters in Neisseria gonorrhoeae Using Dot Blot
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2025
Source: Maurakis, S., and Cornelissen, C. N. Metal-Limited Growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae for Characterization of Metal-Responsive Genes and Metal Acquisition from Host Ligands. J. Vis. Exp. (2020)This video demonstrates the procedure for detecting surface metal transporters in Neisseria gonorrhoeae grown under metal-limited conditions using a dot blot assay, involving ligand binding, antibody detection, and colorimetric visualization.
03:37
Intracisternal Delivery of Meningococci into Mouse Models to Induce Meningococcal Meningitis
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2025
In this video, we demonstrate the intracisternal delivery of Neisseria meningitidis into a mouse model to generate meningitis infection.
FAQs
The polysaccharide capsule helps Neisseria meningitidis withstand complement-mediated killing, an important defense mechanism in host immunity. By limiting the effectiveness of this response, the capsule can support bacterial persistence after mucosal invasion and increase the opportunity for invasive disease. Its immune-evasion role makes capsule biology central to understanding meningococcal pathogenesis and prevention.
Surface proteins provide additional points of interaction between Neisseria meningitidis and the host immune system. Host antibodies can recognize these bacterial structures, while complement contributes to immune-mediated killing. The balance between recognition, antibody activity, complement action, and bacterial evasion influences whether colonization remains localized or progresses toward invasive infection.
Lipooligosaccharide, or LOS, acts as an endotoxin that can provoke intense inflammation during invasive Neisseria meningitidis infection. This inflammatory response contributes to vascular injury, helping explain why meningococcal disease can produce severe systemic illness rather than remaining limited to the original mucosal site. LOS therefore links bacterial components with harmful host responses.
Meningococcal infection can progress from mucosal colonization to life-threatening meningitis or septicemia, with inflammation and vascular injury contributing to severe outcomes. Rapid diagnosis helps identify invasive disease promptly, while antimicrobial treatment addresses the bacterial infection. Together, these measures are important for limiting consequences when host barriers and immune defenses no longer contain the organism.
Surveillance tracks meningococcal disease in populations and supports recognition of outbreaks. This information helps public health efforts focus attention on transmission, affected communities, and individuals at heightened risk. Because the organism spreads through respiratory secretions and can cause invasive disease, surveillance provides a basis for coordinated prevention and outbreak-control decisions.
The capsule, surface proteins, antibodies, and complement interactions identify important targets and mechanisms for vaccine research. Studying how these bacterial features support immune evasion can guide strategies intended to improve protective recognition before invasive infection occurs. This work is especially relevant for reducing meningitis and septicemia and protecting people at highest risk.