Neisseria lactamica

Neisseria lactamica
Neisseria lactamica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria
Phylum: Proteobacteria
Class: Beta Proteobacteria
Order: Neisseriales
Family: Neisseriaceae
Genus: Neisseria
Species

Neisseria lactamica

Neisseria lactamica is a gram-negative diplococcus bacterium. It is strictly a commensal species of the nasopharynx. Uniquely among the Neisseria they are able to produce β-D-galactosidase and ferment lactose [1].

This species is most commonly carried by young children. There is an inverse relationship between colonisation by N. lactamica and Neisseria meningitidis[2]. Carriage of N. lactamica has been associated with decreased incidence of invasive meningococcal disease[3].

References

  1. ^ Hollis DG, Wiggins GL, Weaver RE (1969). "Neisseria lactamicus sp. n., a lactose-fermenting species resembling Neisseria meningitidis". Appl Microbiology 17 (1): 71–7. PMC 377615. PMID 4975454. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=377615. 
  2. ^ Gold R, Goldschneider I, Lepow ML, Draper TF, Randolph M (1978). "Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria lactamica in infants and children". J Infect Dis 137 (2): 112–21. doi:10.1093/infdis/137.2.112. PMID 415097. 
  3. ^ Coen PG, Cartwright K, Stuart J (2000). "Mathematical modelling of infection and disease due to Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria lactamica". Int J Epidemiol 29 (1): 180–8. doi:10.1093/ije/29.1.180. PMID 10750621. http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/29/1/180. 

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