Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis)

Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative, encapsulated, aerobic diplococcus bacterium that infects humans exclusively and is a major cause of bacterial meningitis and life-threatening septicemia (meningococcemia)[1][4][7]. It colonizes the nasopharynx, can exist as part of the normal flora in a significant portion of the population, and is known for causing both endemic disease and large epidemics, especially in certain world regions (Africa, Asia[1][7]). The bacterium is classified both by its polysaccharide capsule (serogroups A, B, C, W135, X, Y cause most disease) and by molecular genotyping methods[1][6][9]. Key virulence factors include its polysaccharide capsule, pili, outer membrane proteins (Opa, Opc), and factor H-binding protein which facilitate adhesion, immune evasion, and penetration of the blood-brain barrier[4][6]. Therapeutically, N. meningitidis itself is not a drug target in the sense of a typical molecular target (like a receptor or enzyme); rather, it is the pathogenic microbe subject to eradication by antibiotics and vaccine-preventable via capsular polysaccharide-based vaccines. Rare experimental studies have proposed individual bacterial proteins as putative drug targets[5], but "Neisseria meningitidis" is not a canonical therapeutic molecular target and should not be used as one for structured biomedical databases.

Other names

meningococcusmeningococcimeningococcal bacteriummeningococcal

Inhibition of cell wall synthesis (beta-lactam antibiotics) Inhibition of protein synthesis (e.g. chloramphenicol) Disruption of selected molecular targets (see experimental HP target with loperamide[5])