 For "N. gonorrhoeae", the first step after successful transmission is adherence to the epithelial cells found at the mucosal site that is infected.The bacterium relies on type IV pili that attach and retract, pulling "N. gonorrhoeae" toward the epithelial membrane where its surface proteins, such as opacity proteins, can interact directly.After adherence, "N. gonorrhoeae" replicates itself and forms microcolonies.