401. Physiology of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
- Author
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Anthony F. Cacciapuoti, Stephen A. Morse, and Paul G. Lysko
- Subjects
biology ,Physiology ,Virulence ,Disease ,urologic and male genital diseases ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease_cause ,Drug treatment ,Immunity ,Immunology ,Neisseria gonorrhoeae ,medicine ,Subject areas ,Disease process ,Neisseria - Abstract
Publisher Summary This chapter explores that gonorrhoea is one of the most commonly reported communicable diseases. With the appearance of antibiotic-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae), which are thought to be the result of an intergeneric conjugal transfer, the possible loss of efficacy of drug treatment in control of this disease has been forewarned. The development of a vaccine follows basic understanding of human immunity to gonococcal infection because gonorrhoea has no virulence factor against which the person could be easily immunized. The multifactorial nature of virulence and the mechanisms of pathogenesis are examined by an understanding of the basic biology of the gonococcus. This chapter provides a summary of the important aspects of gonococcal physiology that relate directly or indirectly to the disease process. Certain aspects of the physiology and metabolism may be as yet unrelated to pathogenesis, but they provide a base from which future research can be planned. It discusses the differences and similarities between the physiology of N. gonorrhoeae and other pathogenic and non-pathogenic Neisseria spp., where this information is available and pertinent. Knowledge of the physiology of related species may help to delineate subject areas of gonococcal physiology that require additional effort.
- Published
- 1980
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