Editing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (section)

=== Infection ===
Successful transmission is followed by adherence to the [[Epithelium|epithelial cells]] found at the infected mucosal site by the bacterium's [[Pilus|type IV pili]]. The pili's ability to attach and subsequently retract pulls ''N. gonorrhoeae'' towards the epithelial membrane at the surface of the mucosal cell.<ref name="Quillin_2018" /> Post attachment, ''N. gonorrhoeae'' replicates its genome and divides to form [[Microcolony|microcolonies]].<ref name="Quillin_2018" /> Gonococcal infection is sometimes aided by the membrane cofactor protein, CD46, as it has been known to act as a receptor for gonococcal pilus.<ref name="Edwards_2004" />  Additionally, interaction with pili has been shown to cause cytoskeletal rearrangement of the host cell, further demonstrating that gonococcal pili engagement disrupts the response of the host cell and increases the likelihood of successful infection.<ref name="Edwards_2004" /> During growth and colonization, ''N. gonorrhoeae'' stimulates the release of [[pro-inflammatory]] [[cytokine]]s and [[chemokine]]s from host immune cells that result in the recruitment of [[neutrophil]]s to the area.<ref name="Hill_2016" /> These [[Phagocyte|phagocytic cells]] typically take in foreign pathogens and destroy them, however, ''N. gonorrhoeae'''s ability to manipulate the host cell response allows the pathogen to survive within these immune cells and evade elimination.<ref name="Hill_2016" />

==== Laboratory diagnosis ====
The primary detection methods for ''Neisseria gonorrhoeae'' are [[Nucleic acid test|nucleic acid amplification tests]], which are the most sensitive techniques available.<ref name="Meyer_2020">{{cite journal | vauthors = Meyer T, Buder S | title = The Laboratory Diagnosis of ''Neisseria gonorrhoeae'': Current Testing and Future Demands | journal = Pathogens | volume = 9 | issue = 2 | pages = 91 | date = January 2020 | pmid = 32024032 | pmc = 7169389 | doi = 10.3390/pathogens9020091 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Cosentino LA, Campbell T, Jett A, Macio I, Zamborsky T, Cranston RD, Hillier SL | title = Use of nucleic acid amplification testing for diagnosis of anorectal sexually transmitted infections | journal = Journal of Clinical Microbiology | volume = 50 | issue = 6 | pages = 2005–2008 | date = June 2012 | pmid = 22493338 | pmc = 3372150 | doi = 10.1128/JCM.00185-12 }}</ref> Other methods of detection include microscopy and culture.<ref name="Meyer_2020" />