Is Neisseria gonorrhoeae Gram negative or Gram positive bacteria?

Is Neisseria gonorrhoeae Gram negative or Gram positive bacteria?

• A. Gram Positive
• B. Gram Variable
• C. Not Applicable
• D. Gram Negative

Answer: (D)

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a Gram-negative bacterium, reflected by its cell wall structure: a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane with lipooligosaccharide. When subjected to Gram staining, it does not retain the crystal violet-iodine complex after alcohol decolorization, so it takes up the counterstain and appears pink/red. This is why it is classified as Gram-negative. In practice, you’ll see Neisseria gonorrhoeae as Gram-negative diplococci, often inside neutrophils, which aligns with its staining and morphological features. The other options would imply Gram-positive characteristics, no staining, or variable staining, none of which fit this organism.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a Gram-negative bacterium, reflected by its cell wall structure: a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane with lipooligosaccharide. When subjected to Gram staining, it does not retain the crystal violet-iodine complex after alcohol decolorization, so it takes up the counterstain and appears pink/red. This is why it is classified as Gram-negative. In practice, you’ll see Neisseria gonorrhoeae as Gram-negative diplococci, often inside neutrophils, which aligns with its staining and morphological features. The other options would imply Gram-positive characteristics, no staining, or variable staining, none of which fit this organism.