Which Neisseria species produces acid from glucose and maltose but not sucrose or lactose?

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Multiple Choice

Which Neisseria species produces acid from glucose and maltose but not sucrose or lactose?

Explanation:
Carbohydrate utilization patterns are used to tell Neisseria species apart. When a organism ferments a sugar, acid is produced, lowering the pH and changing the indicator color; if it doesn’t ferment a sugar, there’s no acid. The combination of acid production from glucose and maltose, but not from lactose or sucrose, is the classic profile for Neisseria meningitidis. This distinguishes it from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which ferments glucose only, and from other Neisseria that may ferment lactose. So the described pattern points to meningococci.

Carbohydrate utilization patterns are used to tell Neisseria species apart. When a organism ferments a sugar, acid is produced, lowering the pH and changing the indicator color; if it doesn’t ferment a sugar, there’s no acid. The combination of acid production from glucose and maltose, but not from lactose or sucrose, is the classic profile for Neisseria meningitidis. This distinguishes it from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which ferments glucose only, and from other Neisseria that may ferment lactose. So the described pattern points to meningococci.

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