(Ch.10) The Prokaryotic: Domain (Bacteria); Gram (Low G+C) Disease: Phylum: (Firmicutes); Class: (Bacilli) Genera: (Staphylococcus); Species (Staphylococcus aureus) [Part 2]

Staphylococcus aureus: (Description & significance)

A) Are spherical B) Gram (+) C) Immobile D) Grape-like clusters. E) They form bunches because they divide in two planes as F) Colonies formed by S. aureus are yellow (thus the name aureus, Latin for gold) and grow large on a rich medium. G) Facultative anaerobes: which means they grow by aerobic respiration or fermentation that produces lactic acid.

Staphylococcus aureus: (Classification)

A) Domain: Bacteria B) Kingdom: Eubacteria C) Phylum: Firmicutes D) Class: Coccus E) Order: Bacillales F) Family: Staphylococcaceae G) Genus: Staphylococcus H) Species: S. aureus

Staphylococcus aureus: (Cell structure & metabolism)

A) Gram (+) B) Thick peptidoglycan layer. C) They form spherical colonies in clusters in 2 planes D) No flagella.

Staphylococcus aureus: (Ecology)

A) Most common hospital acquired pathogens. B) It is a normal inhabitant of the skin and mucous membranes in the nose of a healthy human. C) S. aureus is infectious to both animals and humans and may only survive on dry skin. D) It can be spread through contaminated surfaces, through the air and through people. E) Though some host colonization can be benign, a puncture or break in the skin can prompt this bacterium to enter a wound and cause infections. F) The best preventive measure is simply regular hand washing (preferably without antibacterial soaps or hand sanitizers, but that's another story) and daily bathing.

Staphylococcus aureus: (Definition)

Pyogenic infections such as endocarditis and osteomyelitis; food poisoning, and toxic shock syndrome