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]

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

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
  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.
  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.
  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". Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 34 (11): 2269–72. doi:10.1128/aac.34.11.2269. PMC 172037. PMID 2127349.


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