A 19-year-old woman presents with her third episode of gonococcal cervicitis in 12 months despite appropriate ceftriaxone and azithromycin treatment. Vital signs show BP 118/76, HR 88, RR 16, Temp 37.2°C, SpO2 98%. Cervical culture confirms Neisseria gonorrhoeae; nucleic acid amplification testing is negative for chlamydia. Comprehensive metabolic panel and immunoglobulin levels are normal. She denies new sexual partners and confirms consistent partner testing and treatment. Which microbial property best explains her recurrent susceptibility to infection?
- A)Formation of endospores
- B)Production of protein A
- C)Ability to survive in macrophage phagolysosomes
- D)Antigenic variation of piliGABARITO
- E)Expression of a polysaccharide capsule
Explicação
Neisseria gonorrhoeae undergoes extensive antigenic variation of its pilus proteins, allowing it to evade previously generated antibodies and cause recurrent infection. This is also the reason there is no effective widely used vaccine against gonorrhea. Ver explicação completa e trilha adaptativa →