In many ways, Neisseria meningitidis represents the prototypical pathogen for which molecular techniques have transformed in parallel the scope of basic, translational and clinical laboratory work. Fundamental biology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnostics, treatment and vaccinology – meningococcal research in each of these areas has intensified in recent years with the availability of novel molecular technologies. Overall, this multidisciplined approach has revolutionized the management of meningococcal infection, making the prospect of worldwide disease control a very real possibility. At the same time, the wealth of emergent information on N. meningitidis makes it a challenging topic for clinicians and medical microbiologists to appreciate in its entirety. The goal of the current review, therefore, is to synthesize the broad molecular knowledge on this organism and present it in a manner that ties together the various sub-disciplines. It is our hope that this work can offer a detailed overview for clinical laboratorians and infectious disease physicians (the primary intended audience), integrating broad perspectives on this important pathogen.