The Biology of Neisseria meningitides
Meningitides are commonly influenced by multiple factors that include the expression of surface adhesive proteins, the outer membrane, adhesion molecules, iron sequestration, and capsule polysaccharide expression. Genetic mechanisms that result in horizontal genetic exchange, antigenic variation, and high-frequency phase has evolved from meningitides, which allows the organism to adapt on mucosal surfaces and invade the host. Neisseria meningitides is a subcapsular cell that consists of an outer membrane, cytoplasmic membrane, and a peptidoglycan layer (Tommassen & Arenas, 2017).
Disease caused by Neisseria meningitides
It causes meningitis and other forms of meningococcal, which include life-threatening sepsis. The bacteria are spread through close contact with infected people. Droplets from sneezing or close conversation when inhaled cause infection. It attacks young adults, children, and infants. Symptoms include headache, fever, stiff neck, nausea, excess sleeping, and fast breathing. Treatment of meningitis depends on the type of meningitis, bacterial meningitis must be treated by intravenous antibiotics which prevent the risk of complications such as swelling of the brain, and viral meningitis on the other disappears on its own (McNamara et al., 2017)
Why we should care about Neisseria meningitides
Since meningitis affects membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord, it’s important to be concerned. Several vaccines are available to prevent different types of meningitis, and they are recommended for children and infants. This disease can be managed through vaccination since it prevents and minimizes meningitis. Meningitis can cause death in hours and disabilities, such as brain damage and hearing loss, which makes it to be termed as dangerous (McNamara et al., 2017).