Nelson - Ch. 191 Neisseria meningitides

Question 1

N. meningitides is a commensal of the human nasopharynx in approx ___% of the population and rarely enters the bloodtsream

Answer 1

10

Question 2

N. meningitides ? capsule ? oxidase ? aerobic

Answer 2

Encapsulated, oxidase-positive, aerobic

Question 3

Differences in the chemistry of the capsule of N. meningitides allows definition of ___ serologically distinct meningococcal capsular groups

Answer 3

13

Question 4

These capsular groups of N. meningitides are responsible for almost all cases of disease

Answer 4

A, B, C, W, X, and Y

Question 5

Meningococci are transmitted how

Answer 5

1) Close contact via aerosol droplets 2) Exposure to respiratory secretions

Question 6

Carriage of N. meningitides peaks during

Answer 6

Adolescence and young adulthood, rare in early childhood

Question 7

Highest rate of meningococcal disease occurs in what age group

Answer 7

Infants younger than 1 year old

Question 8

The “meningitis belt” is found where

Answer 8

Across sub-Saharan Africa

Question 9

First step in either carriage or invasive disease by N. meningitidis

Answer 9

Colonization of the nasopharynx

Question 10

Disease with N. meningitides infection usually occurs ___ after acquisition of the pathogen

Answer 10

1-14 days

Question 11

Initial contact of meningococci with host epithelial cells is mediated by

Answer 11

Pili

Question 12

N. meningitides pili may interact with the host ___ or ___ mediating disease

Answer 12

CD46 molecule or and integrin

Question 13

___ secreted by invasive N. meningitides degrades secretory IgA on the mucosal surface, circumventing this first-line host defense mechanism

Answer 13

IgA1 protease

Question 14

___ plays a significant role in rapid clinical deterioration, longer hospitalization, and risk of death in N. meningitides sepsis

Answer 14

Bacterial load

Question 15

Resistance to complement-mediated lysis and phagocytosis of N. meningitides is largely mediated by

Answer 15

1) Polysaccharide capsule 2) LPS

Question 16

Much of the tissue damage in meningococcemia is caused by host immune mechanisms activated by meningococcal components, in particular ___

Answer 16

LPS