The flattened adjacent sides of the cellular appearance of which microorganism resemble kidney beans?

The flattened adjacent sides of the cellular appearance of which microorganism resemble kidney beans?

• A. Aeromonas hydrophila
• B. Campylobacter jejuni
• C. Pasteurella multocida
• D. Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Answer: (D)

Neisseria species form Gram-negative diplococci with flattened adjacent sides, giving a kidney-bean appearance. This paired, bean-like shape is a classic clue for Neisseria, especially seen in specimens from gonorrhea where Gram-negative intracellular diplococci are often observed inside neutrophils. The other organisms listed are not diplococci with this flattened, kidney-bean morphology—Aeromonas hydrophila is a rod, Campylobacter jejuni is a curved rod, and Pasteurella multocida is a small coccobacillus. Thus, the description best matches Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Neisseria species form Gram-negative diplococci with flattened adjacent sides, giving a kidney-bean appearance. This paired, bean-like shape is a classic clue for Neisseria, especially seen in specimens from gonorrhea where Gram-negative intracellular diplococci are often observed inside neutrophils. The other organisms listed are not diplococci with this flattened, kidney-bean morphology—Aeromonas hydrophila is a rod, Campylobacter jejuni is a curved rod, and Pasteurella multocida is a small coccobacillus. Thus, the description best matches Neisseria gonorrhoeae.