Mechanisms of neisserial serum resistance

Abstract excerpt

Pathogenic Neisseria use a variety of mechanisms to survive the bactericidal action of the complement system. Serum resistance is a crucial virulence factor for the development of severe meningococcal disease, meningococcal meningitis and disseminated gonococcal infection. Furthermore, local inflammation at the site of gonococcal infection exposes the bacteria to moderate concentrations of complement factors. We...