Neisseria lactamica septicemia in an immunocompromised patient

Schifman, Ron B.; Ryan, Kenneth J.

doi:10.1128/jcm.17.5.934-935.1983

Cited by 21 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…These results suggest that of the total number of currently recognized 'virulence genes', excluding the influence of allelic differences, the presence of only six can now be considered to be pathogen-specific. Only two of these six genes, iga and dca , have previously been reported to be pathogen-specific [ 4 , 8 , 9 , 11 - 14 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The majority of genes in the pathogenic Neisseria species are present in non-pathogenic Neisseria lactamica, including those designated as 'virulence genes'

2006

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Background: Neisseria meningitidis causes the life-threatening diseases meningococcal meningitis and meningococcal septicemia. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is closely related to the meningococcus, but is the cause of the very different infection, gonorrhea. A number of genes have been implicated in the virulence of these related yet distinct pathogens, but the genes that define and differentiate the species and their behaviours have not been established. Further, a related species, Neisseria lactamica is not associated with either type of infection in normally healthy people, and lives as a harmless commensal. We have determined which of the genes so far identified in the genome sequences of the pathogens are also present in this non-pathogenic related species.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The majority of genes in the pathogenic Neisseria species are present in non-pathogenic Neisseria lactamica, including those designated as 'virulence genes'

2006

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“…Indeed, N. lactamica and several serogroups of N. meningitidis share similar structures and genetic elements, including lipooligosaccharide epitopes [17], porins [18] and a cryptic plasmid [19], in addition to several metabolic properties [20]. Moreover, among the non‐pathogenic Neisseriae , N. lactamica is the more frequently involved species in human diseases [21–28]. Further studies will address the question whether the absence of Dam activity and/or the presence of an alternative restriction‐modification system specific for the GATC sequence in N. lactamica has functional consequences for mutation rates and regulation of phase‐variable genes, and plays a role in adaptation and, occasionally, in pathogenesis.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution and function of the neisserial dam‐replacing gene

Cantalupo¹,

Bucci²,

Salvatore³

et al. 2001

FEBS Letters

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Phase variation through slippage-like mechanisms involving homopolymeric tracts depends in part on the absence of Dam-methylase in several pathogenic isolates of Neisseria meningitidis. In Dam-defective strains drg (dam-replacing gene), flanked by pseudo-transposable small repeated elements (SREs), replaced dam. We demonstrate that drg encodes a restriction endonuclease (NmeBII) that cleaves 5P P-GmeATC-3P P. drg is also present in 50% of Neisseria lactamica strains, but in most of them it is inactive because of the absence of an SRE-providing promoter. This is associated with the presence of GATmeC, suggesting an alternative restriction-modification system (RM) specific for 5P P-GATC-3P P, similar to Sau3AI-RM of Staphylococcus aureus 3A, Lactococcus lactis KR2 and Listeria monocytogenes. ß 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

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“…The fact that Nlac can induce a strong inflammatory response when heat‐killed is not surprising considering that 13 unrelated strains of Nlac have been reported to share the majority of their virulence genes with four strains of Nmen (Snyder et al ., 2005). A few cases of Nlac ‐induced meningitis and septicaemia have even been reported in immune compromised individuals (Wilson and Overman, 1976; Schifman and Ryan, 1983; Brown et al ., 1987). Our experiments provide compelling evidence for a strong immune stimulatory capability of dead Nlac which is normally actively suppressed by the organism itself.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%