Neisseria models of infection and persistence in the upper respiratory tract

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• The genus Neisseria comprises pathogenic and commensal Gram-negative bacteria residing in the human and animal upper respiratory tract.
• Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are key human pathogens studied for their ability to cause invasive disease and persist in the respiratory tract.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the genus Neisseria.
• To discuss the upper respiratory tract as a bacterial niche.
• To review studies on Neisseria colonization and persistence, including animal and human models.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on Neisseria species.
• Discussion of anatomical features of the upper respiratory tract as a bacterial niche.
• Analysis of various animal models (mice, non-human primates) and human volunteer studies for Neisseria persistence.

Main Results:

• Neisseria species, both pathogenic and commensal, colonize and persist in the upper respiratory tract.
• Animal models, particularly in mice, have been instrumental in studying Neisseria meningitidis infections.
• Diverse models exist to study respiratory tract persistence, offering insights into bacterial-host interactions.

Conclusions:

• Understanding Neisseria colonization and persistence in the upper respiratory tract is vital.
• Developing effective upper respiratory tract models is essential for advancing antimicrobial therapies.
• Minimizing antimicrobial resistance spread from respiratory reservoirs requires further research into these models.