Which organism is a gram-negative cocci, oxidase positive, that ferments glucose, maltose, and sucrose but not lactose?

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Multiple Choice

Which organism is a gram-negative cocci, oxidase positive, that ferments glucose, maltose, and sucrose but not lactose?

Carbohydrate use helps distinguish Neisseria species after confirming you’re looking at gram-negative, oxidase-positive diplococci. Neisseria meningitidis uniquely matches this pattern: it can ferment glucose and maltose, and it also ferments sucrose, while not fermenting lactose. This combination sets it apart from the others in the group, where different sugar fermentation profiles are observed (for example, gonorrhoeae typically ferments glucose only). So the described fermentation pattern points to Neisseria meningitidis.

Carbohydrate use helps distinguish Neisseria species after confirming you’re looking at gram-negative, oxidase-positive diplococci. Neisseria meningitidis uniquely matches this pattern: it can ferment glucose and maltose, and it also ferments sucrose, while not fermenting lactose. This combination sets it apart from the others in the group, where different sugar fermentation profiles are observed (for example, gonorrhoeae typically ferments glucose only). So the described fermentation pattern points to Neisseria meningitidis.

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