Final answer:
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a type of bacteria that can be best described as Gram-negative diplococci. These bacteria, which generally inhabit mucosal surfaces in the human body, grow in pairs that resemble coffee beans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae can be best described as Gram-negative diplococci. The term Gram-negative refers to the bacteria's inability to retain the violet crystal dye used in a Gram stain test. Diplococci, on the other hand, refers to the characteristic pair-like pattern ('diplo-' meaning double) of growth that this bacterium exhibits. Visually, these bacteria resemble pairs of coffee beans (Figure 4.5).
Neisseria gonorrhoeae commonly inhabits mucosal surfaces in the human body. They are fastidious, requiring specific conditions for optimal growth. They are 'microaerophilic'—thriving on low levels of oxygen, requiring high moisture content and nutrient supplements, and cultivated best on chocolate agar; a medium supplemented by partially hemolyzed red blood cells.
It's important to consider the ongoing issue of antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. For instance, resistance against tetracycline was observed in a large number of reported cases in 2011, posing a serious challenge to the medical and public health communities. This resistance typically spreads through plasmids, with a single bacterium potentially harboring resistance against multiple antibiotics.
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