Streptococcus
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Streptococcus is a genus of spherical, Gram-positive bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes. These bacteria grow in chains or pairs, with cell division occurring only along one axis. In this sense they are contrasted with Staphylococcus, which divides along several axes, generating a "cluster" of cells, which resemble clusters of grapes.
Members of the genus Streptococcus which cause disease include:
- Group A Streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes) which causes strep throat
- Group B Streptococci (Streptococcus agalactiae) which causes meningitis in neonates and the elderly, with occasional systemic bacteremia.
- Group D Streptococci (S. durans, S. avium, S. bovis)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae which causes pneumonia
- Streptococcus viridans group which cause endocarditis and dental abscesses.
- Additional work on this article is appreciated.
References
- Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Streptococcus" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcus, used under the GNU Free Documentation License
