Streptococcus
Sign in to saveStreptococcus, from Ancient Greek στρεπτός (streptós), meaning "twisted", and κόκκος (kókkos), meaning "grain", is a genus of gram-positive spherical bacteria that belongs to the family Streptococcaceae, within the order Lactobacillales (lactic acid bacteria), in the phylum Bacillota. Cell division in streptococci occurs along a single axis, thus when growing they tend to form pairs or chains, which may appear bent or twisted. This differs from staphylococci, which divide along multiple axes, thereby generating irregular, grape-like clusters of cells. Most streptococci are oxidase-negative and
AI overview
Streptococcus is a genus of spherical bacteria that form chains when they grow, and the name comes from the Greek words for "twisted" and "grain" because of their characteristic appearance. These bacteria are important because many species are associated with human infections and disease, making them medically significant organisms.
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Taxonomy · GBIF
GENUS
- KingdomBacteria
- PhylumFirmicutes
- ClassBacilli
- OrderLactobacillales
- FamilyStreptococcaceae
via GBIF · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Streptococcaceae
- Image
- Streptococcus.jpg
Show 4 more facts
- P105
- genus
Article
21 sectionsContents
- Pathogenesis and classification
- Alpha-hemolytic
- Pneumococci
- The viridans group: alpha-hemolytic
- Beta-hemolytic
- Group A
- Group B
- Group C
- Group D (enterococci)
- Group F streptococci
- Group G streptococci
- Group H streptococci
- Clinical identification
- Treatment
- Molecular taxonomy and phylogenetics
- Genomics
- Bacteriophage
- Natural genetic transformation
- See also
- References
- External links
Streptococcus, from Ancient Greek στρεπτός (streptós), meaning "twisted", and κόκκος (kókkos), meaning "grain", is a genus of gram-positive spherical bacteria that belongs to the family Streptococcaceae, within the order Lactobacillales (lactic acid bacteria), in the phylum Bacillota. Cell division in streptococci occurs along a single axis, thus when growing they tend to form pairs or chains, which may appear bent or twisted. This differs from staphylococci, which divide along multiple axes, thereby generating irregular, grape-like clusters of cells. Most streptococci are oxidase-negative and catalase-negative, and many are facultative anaerobes (capable of growth both aerobically and anaerobically).
The term was coined in 1877 by Viennese surgeon Albert Theodor Billroth (1829–1894), from Ancient Greek στρεπτός (streptós), meaning "twisted", and κόκκος (kókkos), meaning "grain". In 1984, many bacteria formerly grouped in the genus Streptococcus were separated out into the genera Enterococcus and Lactococcus. Currently, over 50 species are recognised in this genus. This genus has been found to be part of the salivary microbiome.