NC_017511:602000 Neisseria gonorrhoeae TCDC-NG08107 chromosome, complete genome
Host Lineage: Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Neisseria; Neisseriaceae; Neisseriales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: One of two pathogenic Neisseria, this species causes the sexually transmitted disease (STD) gonorrhea, which is the leading reportable STD in adults in the USA. This human-specific organism colonizes and invades the mucosal surface of the urogenital epithelium, crosses the epithelial barrier, and ends up multiplying on the basement membrane. The Opa proteins are responsible for the opaque colony phenotype due to the tight junctions between adjacent Neisseria, and are also responsible for tight adherence to host cells. This organism, like Neisseria meningitidis, is also naturally competent for DNA uptake.