<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p><italic>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</italic> (gonococcus) is a human pathogen, the aetiological agent of gonorrhoea, which is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the world. The structure of <italic>N. gonorrhoeae</italic> cell wall is typical of Gram-negative bacteria, poses variable antigens porin B (PorB), and opacity-associated proteins (Opa proteins), lipooligosaccharide (LOS) and type IV pili (TFP) playing an essential role in pathogenesis. In addition to adhesins, gonococcus presents other virulence factors such as reducing modifiable protein (Rmp), iron transporters, membrane pumps, and IgA peptidase. The pathogen produces outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), releases peptidoglycan (PG) fragments and is well adapted to develop infection in diverse niches of the female and male reproductive tracts. The characteristic genotypic trait of <italic>N. gonorrhoeae</italic> is the state of natural competence, which allows DNA uptake from the environment. The antigenic and phase variability is essential to gonococcal defence against the human immune system. Because of the increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of <italic>N. gonorrhoeae</italic> and the high incidence rate of gonococcal infections, developing an antigonococcal vaccine has become an urgent need. Vaccine development difficulties are mainly due to the gonococcal ability of immune evasion, the lack of an animal model, and the limited understanding of protective immune response mechanisms.</p>
</abstract>

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus) is a human pathogen, the aetiological agent of gonorrhoea, which is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the world. The structure of N. gonorrhoeae cell wall is typical of Gram-negative bacteria, poses variable antigens porin B (PorB), and opacity-associated proteins (Opa proteins), lipooligosaccharide (LOS) and type IV pili (TFP) playing an essential role in pathogenesis. In addition to adhesins, gonococcus presents other virulence factors such as reducing modifiable protein (Rmp), iron transporters, membrane pumps, and IgA peptidase. The pathogen produces outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), releases peptidoglycan (PG) fragments and is well adapted to develop infection in diverse niches of the female and male reproductive tracts. The characteristic genotypic trait of N. gonorrhoeae is the state of natural competence, which allows DNA uptake from the environment. The antigenic and phase variability is essential to gonococcal defence against the human immune system. Because of the increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of N. gonorrhoeae and the high incidence rate of gonococcal infections, developing an antigonococcal vaccine has become an urgent need. Vaccine development difficulties are mainly due to the gonococcal ability of immune evasion, the lack of an animal model, and the limited understanding of protective immune response mechanisms.

Gonococci – Pathogens of Growing Importance. Part 2. Virulence Factors, Antimicrobial Resistance and Vaccine Development

Advancements of Microbiology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus) is a human pathogen, the aetiological agent of gonorrhoea, which is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted...

Gonococci – Pathogens of Growing Importance. Part 2. Virulence Factors, Antimicrobial Resistance and Vaccine Development

Pubblicato online: 03 lug 2024

Pagine: 113 - 125

Ricevuto: 01 mag 2024

Accettato: 01 giu 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/am-2024-0010

Parole chiave
AMR, gonorrhoea, vaccine, virulence factor

© 2024 Joanna Białecka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Gonococci – Pathogens of Growing Importance. Part 2. Virulence Factors, Antimicrobial Resistance and Vaccine Development

Pubblicato online: 03 lug 2024

Pagine: 113 - 125

Ricevuto: 01 mag 2024

Accettato: 01 giu 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/am-2024-0010

Parole chiaveAMR, gonorrhoea, vaccine, virulence factor

© 2024 Joanna Białecka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Parole chiave
AMR, gonorrhoea, vaccine, virulence factor