Editing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (section)

===Survival of gonococci===
After gonococci invade and [[Transcytosis|transcytose]] the host epithelial cells, they land in the submucosa, where neutrophils promptly consume them.<ref name="Sherris" /> The pili and Opa proteins on the surface may interfere with phagocytosis,<ref name="Lev13th2" /> but most gonococci end up in neutrophils. The exudates from infected individuals contain many neutrophils with ingested gonococci. Neutrophils release an oxidative burst of [[reactive oxygen species]] in their phagosomes to kill the gonococci.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Simons MP, Nauseef WM, Apicella MA | title = Interactions of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with adherent polymorphonuclear leukocytes | journal = Infection and Immunity | volume = 73 | issue = 4 | pages = 1971–1977 | date = April 2005 | pmid = 15784537 | pmc = 1087443 | doi = 10.1128/iai.73.4.1971-1977.2005 }}</ref> However, a significant fraction of the gonococci can resist killing through the action of their [[catalase]]<ref name="Sherris" /> which breaks down reactive oxygen species and is able to reproduce within the neutrophil phagosomes.<ref name="pmid30627130">{{cite journal | vauthors = Escobar A, Rodas PI, Acuña-Castillo C | title = Macrophage-''Neisseria gonorrhoeae'' Interactions: A Better Understanding of Pathogen Mechanisms of Immunomodulation | journal = Frontiers in Immunology | volume = 9 | issue =  | pages = 3044 | date = 2018 | pmid = 30627130 | pmc = 6309159 | doi = 10.3389/fimmu.2018.03044 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

The bacterial RecA protein, which mediates repair of DNA damage, plays an important role in gonococcal survival.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Stohl EA, Seifert HS | title = Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA recombination and repair enzymes protect against oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide | journal = Journal of Bacteriology | volume = 188 | issue = 21 | pages = 7645–7651 | date = November 2006 | pmid = 16936020 | pmc = 1636252 | doi = 10.1128/JB.00801-06 }}</ref> ''N. gonorrhoeae'' may replace DNA damaged in neutrophil phagosomes with DNA from neighboring gonococci.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Michod RE, Bernstein H, Nedelcu AM | title = Adaptive value of sex in microbial pathogens | journal = Infection, Genetics and Evolution | volume = 8 | issue = 3 | pages = 267–285 | date = May 2008 | pmid = 18295550 | doi = 10.1016/j.meegid.2008.01.002 | bibcode = 2008InfGE...8..267M }}</ref> The process in which recipient gonococci integrate DNA from neighboring gonococci into their genome is called transformation.<ref name="pmid27825443">{{cite journal | vauthors = Blokesch M | title = Natural competence for transformation | journal = Current Biology | volume = 26 | issue = 21 | pages = R1126–R1130 | date = November 2016 | pmid = 27825443 | doi = 10.1016/j.cub.2016.08.058 | doi-access = free | bibcode = 2016CBio...26R1126B }}</ref>
[[File:Neisseria gonorrhoeae Growth on New York City Agar Plate.jpg|thumb|right|The growth of ''N. gonorrhoeae'' colonies on New York City agar, a specialized and selective medium for gonococci]]