Lay summary
Neisseria gonorrheoae is an extraordinary bacterium, that is finely tuned to its human host. It can survive and replicate within both human epithelial cells and cells of the immune system, providing protection from both antimicrobials and the host immune system. This provides avenues for dissemination of infection, within the host and between individuals. New and novel therapies targeting these intracellular bacteria are crucial for better gonorrhoea treatments, yet it is poorly understood how N. gonorrhoeae can survive and replicate within host cells. We have identified a toxin-antitoxin system that plays a key role in intracellular trafficking and regulation, yet the mechanism of how this system controls these processes is unknown. Using cutting edge cell infection assays and dual RNA sequencing protocols, this transformative research will reshape how we view intracellular gonococcal infection, and provide opportunities for new therapeutics targeting the FitAB toxin-antitoxin system.