Virulence factors for meningococci
Capsule
Pili
Endotoxin
Coagulase
Meningococci are capsulated, unlike Neisseria. Based on their capsular polysaccharide antigens, they are classified into 13 subgroups, of which groups A, B, C, X, Y and W-135 are the most impoant Reference: Textbook of Microbiology; Anathanarayan and panicker's; 10th edition; Page no: 231
Bacteriology