Clinical and laboratory evidence for Neisseria meningitidis biofilms.
Neisseria meningitidis is the etiologic agent of meningococcal meningitis. Carriage of the organism is approximately 10% while active disease occurs at a rate of 1:100,000. Recent publications demonstrate that N. meningitidis has the ability to form biofilms on glass, plastic or cultured human bronchial epithelial cells. Microcolony-like structures are also observed in histological sections from patients with active meningococcal disease. This review investigates the possible role of meningococcal biofilms in carriage and active disease, based on the laboratory and clinical aspects of the disease.
Neil
R Brock
RB
University of Iowa, Hygienic Laboratory, 102 Oakdale Campus, H101 OH, Iowa City, IA 52242-5002, USA.
Apicella
Michael A
MA
D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*