Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Adaptation and Survival in the Urogenital Tract

摘要: Uncomplicated gonorrhea is most commonly an acute urogenital infection involving the urethra in men and endocervix women of reproductive age. Upon entering tract, Neisseria gonorrhoeae adheres to columnar epithelial cells, a step that presumably enables gonococcus withstand flushing force urine constant shedding cervical mucus. Transcriptional regulation genes response environmental stimuli mucus layer may coordinate adaptation this pathogen nutritionally different microenvironments physiological stress induced by nonspecific host defenses. The major pilin subunit, PilE, encoded one or two expression loci (pilE) on chromosome. This chapter focuses survival mechanisms utilized specifically context mucosa. isolation gonococcal fur mutant Thomas Sparling facilitated identification numerous fur-dependent iron-induced (Fip) iron-repressed (Frp) proteins two-dimensional electrophoresis; from work might predict existence virulence are regulated iron but not involved uptake. Insights these studies have fostered theories regarding functions molecules role variable gene transmission. development animal models for studying specific aspects female background should also be pursued, incorporating transgenic mice when possible better mimic human infection.