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Basic Methods for Examining Neisseria gonorrhoeae Interactions with Host Cells In Vitro

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Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1997))

Abstract

The obligate human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae colonizes primarily the mucosal columnar epithelium of the male urethra and the female endocervix. In addition, gonococci can infect the anorectal, pharyngeal, and gingival mucosae and epithelial cells of the conjunctiva. More rarely, the organism can disseminate through the bloodstream, which can involve interactions with other host cell types, including blood vessel endothelial cells and innate immune cells such as dendritic cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. “Disseminated gonococcal infection” is a serious condition with various manifestations resulting from the seeding of organs and tissues with the pathogen. The host response to gonococcal infection is inflammatory. Knowledge of the biology of gonococcal interactions has been served well through the use of a wide variety of ex vivo models using host tissues and eukaryotic cell monocultures. These models have helped identify bacterial surface adhesins and invasins and the corresponding cell surface receptors that play roles in gonococcal pathogenesis. Furthermore, they have been useful for understanding virulence mechanisms as well as innate and adaptive immune responses. In this chapter, readers are provided with protocols for examining the basic interactions between gonococci and a representative human cell line.

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Acknowledgments

H.L.A.M. was a Ph.D. student funded by Colciencias–Colfuturo, Government of Colombia, Scholarship 568.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Microbiology Group, Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Hannia Liliana Almonacid-Mendoza & Myron Christodoulides

Authors
  1. Hannia Liliana Almonacid-Mendoza
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  2. Myron Christodoulides
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Myron Christodoulides .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Microbiology Group, Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Myron Christodoulides

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Almonacid-Mendoza, H.L., Christodoulides, M. (2019). Basic Methods for Examining Neisseria gonorrhoeae Interactions with Host Cells In Vitro. In: Christodoulides, M. (eds) Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1997. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9496-0_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9496-0_17

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-9495-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-9496-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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