Organisms

Neisseria meningitidis

A species of gram-negative, aerobic BACTERIA. It is a commensal and pathogen only of humans, and can be carried asymptomatically in the NASOPHARYNX. When found in cerebrospinal fluid it is the causative agent of cerebrospinal meningitis (MENINGITIS, MENINGOCOCCAL). It is also found in venereal discharges and blood. There are at least 13 serogroups based on antigenic differences in the capsular polysaccharides; the ones causing most meningitis infections being A, B, C, Y, and W-135. Each serogroup can be further classified by serotype, serosubtype, and immunotype.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A species of gram-negative, aerobic BACTERIA. It is a commensal and pathogen only of humans, and can be carried asymptomatically in the NASOPHARYNX. When found in cerebrospinal fluid it is the causative agent of cerebrospinal meningitis (MENINGITIS, MENINGOCOCCAL). It is also found in venereal discharges and blood. There are at least 13 serogroups based on antigenic differences in the capsular polysaccharides; the ones causing most meningitis infections being A, B, C, Y, and W-135. Each serogroup can be further classified by serotype, serosubtype, and immunotype.

MeSH Record

Classification

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

6 entry terms
  • Diplokokkus intracellularis meningitidis
  • Meningococcus
  • Micrococcus intracellularis
  • Micrococcus meningitidis
  • Micrococcus meningitidis cerebrospinalis
  • Neisseria weichselbaumii

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

15 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings chemistry, classification, cytology, drug effects, enzymology, genetics, growth & development, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pathogenicity, physiology, radiation effects, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

specific serogroups are also available; infection: probably MENINGITIS, MENINGOCOCCAL or, if not meningitis, MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTIONS

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QW 131

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Neisseria meningitidis. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D009345. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D009345
  2. Neisseria meningitidis. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neisseria_meningitidis
  3. Neisseria meningitidis. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q154625