Which Neisseria species is typically found in the normal flora of the human throat?

Neisseria sicca is the species typically found in the normal flora of the human throat. It is a part of the commensal bacteria that inhabit mucous membranes, including those of the respiratory tract. Neisseria sicca is known for its ability to coexist benignly within the throat microbiome without causing disease, contributing to the overall microbial diversity and potentially playing a role in maintaining health by preventing the colonization of pathogenic organisms.

In contrast, Neisseria gonorrhoeae is primarily associated with the urogenital tract and is the causative agent of gonorrhea, making it less relevant to the normal throat flora. Neisseria lactamica is more commonly associated with the nasopharynx of young children and is not typically considered a regular inhabitant of the adult throat flora. Neisseria flavescens is a less frequently encountered species and is not commonly recognized in discussions of normal throat microbiota. Thus, Neisseria sicca stands out as the representative of the normal flora within the human throat environment.