Classification:
Domain:
Prokaryote
Kingdom:
Bacteria
Phylum: Proteobacteria
Class: Betaproteobacteria
Order: Neisseriales
Family: Neisseriaceae
Genus: Neisseria
Species:
Neisseria
Meningitidis
Prokaryote:
N. Meningitidis is classified among the
prokaryotes because it lacks a nucleus and membrane
bound organelles.
Bacteria:
N. Meningitidis is a member of the kingdom
bacteria because it is unicellular and small as most
bacteria are. This kingdom encompasses a wide
variety of organisms. Some of these organisms are
pathogenic in humans like N. Meningitidis. An
example of a somewhat more common pathogenic bacteria
would be
Bordetella pertussis which is responsible for
Whooping Cough in humans. Some members of this group may be
pathogenic in something other than humans as
Pseudomonas syringae
is a pathogen in plants.
An example of a bacteria that is non
pathogenic
Deinococcus radiodurans
because it does not cause any
disease.
Proteobacteria:
N. Meningitidis is classified as a
proteobacteria because it is gram negative with an outer
membrane of lipopolysaccharides and because many
proteobacteria are pathogenic as is N. Meningitidis.
Neisseriales and
Neisseriacaeae: N.
Meningitidis is classified in this order and family
because it is strictly aerobic, gram negative, and
occurs in pairs (diplococci).
Neisseria:
N. Meningitidis is part of this genus because
all are gram negative, many are pathogenic and it is
diplococci.
Lineage Key:
N. Meningitidis is a member of the
Beta Proteobacteria. Other members of the
Proteobacteria that have similar characteristics to the
Beta Proteobacteria are the Alpha, Delta, Gamma, and
Epsilon Proteobacteria. Beta and
Gamma Proteobacteria both have members within
their groups that are pathogens.
Beta and
Alpha Proteobacteria both have some phototrophic
members. Beta and Delta Proteobacteria both have
predominantly aerobic genera.
Beta and Epsilon Proteobacteria both have pathogens
within their groups that live specifically in humans.
The genus Neisseria has many different members.
The members listed above: N. Gonorrhoeae, N Cinerea,
N. Lactamica, N. Meningitidis, and N. Polysaccharea are all
strains that are non-pigmented and form translucent
colonies. They all are also generally not
saaccharolytic which means they are not capable of
hydrolyzing or breaking down a sugar molecule.
Find out if you're going to
die...go to N. Meningitidis
Pathogenesis next!