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]

Neisseria lactamica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Pseudomonadota
Class: Betaproteobacteria
Order: Neisseriales
Family: Neisseriaceae
Genus: Neisseria
Species:
N. lactamica
Binomial name
Neisseria lactamica
corrig. Hollis et al. 1969 (Approved Lists 1980)

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] However, resistance to penicillin and other beta-lactams may be transmitted from commensal neisseriae such as Neisseria lactamica to disease causing Neisseria meningitidis by the process of genetic transformation.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Hollis DG, Wiggins GL, Weaver RE (1969). "Neisseria lactamicus sp. n., a lactose-fermenting species resembling Neisseria meningitidis". Applied Microbiology. 17 (1): 71–7. doi:10.1128/am.17.1.71-77.1969. PMC 377615. PMID 4975454.
  2. ^ Gold R, Goldschneider I, Lepow ML, Draper TF, Randolph M (1978). "Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria lactamica in infants and children". Journal of Infectious Diseases. 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". International Journal of Epidemiology. 29 (1): 180–8. doi:10.1093/ije/29.1.180. PMID 10750621.
  4. ^ Saez-Nieto JA, Lujan R, Martinez-Suarez JV, Berron S, Vazquez JA, Viñas M, Campos J (1990). "Neisseria lactamica and Neisseria polysaccharea as possible sources of meningococcal beta-lactam resistance by genetic transformation". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 34 (11): 2269–72. doi:10.1128/aac.34.11.2269. PMC 172037. PMID 2127349.
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