Commensal non-pathogenic
Neisseria
spp. live within the human host alongside the pathogenic
Neisseria meningitidis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
and due to natural competence, horizontal gene transfer within the genus is possible and has been observed. Four distinct
Neisseria
spp. isolates taken from the throats of two human volunteers have been assessed here using a combination of microbiological and bioinformatics techniques. Three of the isolates have been identified as
Neisseria subflava
biovar perflava and one as
Neisseria cinerea
. Specific gene clusters have been identified within these commensal isolate genome sequences that are believed to encode a Type VI Secretion System, a newly identified CRISPR system, a Type IV Secretion System unlike that in other
Neisseria
spp., a hemin transporter, and a haem acquisition and utilization system. This investigation is the first to investigate these systems in either the non-pathogenic or pathogenic
Neisseria
spp. In addition, the
N. subflava
biovar perflava possess previously unreported capsule loci and sequences have been identified in all four isolates that are similar to genes seen within the pathogens that are associated with virulence. These data from the four commensal isolates provide further evidence for a
Neisseria
spp. gene pool and highlight the presence of systems within the commensals with functions still to be explored.
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