1. An Overview of Neisseria meningitidis
- Author
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Sarah Hollingshead, Christoph M. Tang, Seib, K, and Peak, I
- Subjects
0303 health sciences ,Virulence ,Virulence Factors ,030306 microbiology ,Neisseria meningitidis ,Meningococcal Vaccines ,Disease ,Meningococcal vaccine ,Biology ,medicine.disease_cause ,medicine.disease ,Microbiology ,Meningococcal Infections ,03 medical and health sciences ,Antigen ,medicine ,Humans ,Microbiome ,Pathogen ,Meningitis ,030304 developmental biology - Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis (the meningococcus) is a member of the normal nasopharyngeal microbiome in healthy individuals, but can cause septicemia and meningitis in susceptible individuals. In this chapter we provide an overview of the disease caused by N. meningitidis and the schemes used to type the meningococcus. We also review the adhesions, virulence factors, and phase variable genes that enable it to successfully colonize the human host. Finally, we outline the history and current status of meningococcal vaccines and highlight the importance of continued molecular investigation of the epidemiology and the structural analysis of the antigens of this pathogen to aid future vaccine development.
- Published
- 2019
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