Neisseria flava

Neisseria flava (Latin: flava, yellow, golden) is a bacterium belonging to a group of species under the genus Neisseria that is considered non-pathogenic. Along with its other members of the non-pathogenic group, Neisseria flava is often found in the upper respiratory tract surface in humans. On rare occasions, it can cause rheumatic heart disease and ventricular septal defect aortic insufficiency.[1]

Neisseria flava
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Proteobacteria
Class:	Beta Proteobacteria
Order:	Neisseriales
Family:	Neisseriaceae
Genus:	Neisseria
Species
Neisseria flava

Identification

Steps

1. Perform Gram-stain to identify the bacterium in question, continue to step 2 if it is found to be Gram negative cocci.
2. Neisseria flava is an aerobic microbe, try growing some of the same in the presence in air/air + CO2.
3. Transfer sample able to growth in air to a NA medium at 25C, continue to step 4 if colonies are observed.

• • If not, be aware of the microbe being handled, it is either Neisseria meningitidis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae, both of which are pathogenic.

1. Finally, perform nitrate test.

Alternative test is Oxidative/fermentation glucose test(O/F test). If found to be oxidative, it is Neisseria spp.

• If positive in the final test, the microbe is Moraxella.
• If negative in the final test, the microbe is Neisseria spp.[2]

References

1. Scott, RM 1971, 'Bacterial endocarditis due to Neisseria flava', The Journal of Pediatrics, vol. 78, no. 4, pp. 673-5.
2. 2009, Microbiological Laboratory Techniques Manual, Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne

External links

• Type strain of Neisseria flava at BacDive - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase