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S. agalactiae |
Streptococcus is a genus of spherical Gram-positive bacteria belonging to the phylum Firmicutes1 and the lactic acid bacteria group. Cellular division occurs along a single axis in these bacteria, and thus they grow in chains or pairs, hence the name — from Greek στρεπτος streptos, meaning easily bent or twisted, like a chain. Contrast this with staphylococci, which divide along multiple axes and generate grape-like clusters of cells.
Streptococci are oxidase- and catalase-negative.
In 1984, many organisms formerly considered Streptococcus were separated out into Enterococci and Lactococci.2
Morphology: Streptococci are Gram positive more or less spherical sometimes ovoid.
References
- ^ Ryan KJ; Ray CG (editors) (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology (4th ed. ed.). McGraw Hill. ISBN 0-8385-8529-9.
- ^ Facklam R (October 2002). "What happened to the streptococci: overview of taxonomic and nomenclature changes". Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 15 (4): 613–30. PMID 12364372. PMC: 126867. http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=12364372.
External links
- Prevention of Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease August 16, 2002 MMWR 2000;49:228-232.
- The Canadian Strep B Foundation
- The UK Group B Strep Support charity
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 3 January 2009, at 08:34.
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