Neisseriaceae

The Neisseriaceae are a family of Proteobacteria, within the Neisseriales order. While many organisms in the family are mammalian commensals or part of the normal flora, the genus Neisseria includes two important human pathogens, specifically those responsible for gonorrhea (caused by N. gonorrhoeae) and many cases of meningitis ('meningococcal meningitis', caused by N. meningitidis). As a group, the Neisseriaceae are strictly aerobic and Gram-negative, occur mainly in pairs (diplococci), and typically do not have flagella.