Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a pathogenic sexually-transmitted bacterium, is becoming untreatable due to increased antibiotic resistance. Related commensal (non-pathogenic) Neisseria species are found in the human oral and nasopharynx, but are rarely studied. Here, we seek (1) to characterize the intrinsic antibiotic resistance (AR) profile of commensal Neisseria species: N. mucosa, N. cinerea, N. lactamica, and N. elongata; and (2) to determine whether these bacteria can be considered reservoirs of AR genes for pathogenic Neisseria. Within this work, measuring AR levels in commensal Neisseria will be conducted by Disk Diffusion Assays (DDA), Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) assays with antibiotics used to treat gonorrhea. Through these experiments, we expect commensal strains to display resistance levels similar to or greater than reference pathogenic strains. Characterizing AR profiles in commensals is necessary to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms evolved by these bacteria to resist commonly prescribed antibiotics and to determine whether commensal Neisseria species can be considered reservoirs of AR genes. It is imperative that scientists identify the mechanisms of AR in commensal Neisseria in order to anticipate the progress of AR in pathogenic N. gonorrhoeae, and potentially N. meningitidis.
