Streptococcus is a genus of spherical, nonmotile, Gram-positive bacteria that grow in pairs or chains; its members cause diseases such as strep throat, tonsillitis, bacterial pneumonia, scarlet fever and rheumatic fever.

From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.

Strep`to*coc"cus (?), n.; pl. Streptococci (#). [NL., fr. Gr. pliant, curved + a grain, seed.] Biol.

A long or short chain of micrococci, more or less curved.

<-- Streptomyces. A genus of gram-positive bacteria growing in long filamentous, often branched chains. They are plentiful in soil and produce the characteristic odor of soils. Some of the species have proved to be useful as sources of important pharmaceutical agents. Of these, the best known are streptomycin, chloramphenicaol, and tetracycline. -->

<-- Streptomycete. Any member of the family of bacteria called Streptomycetaceae, including the genus Streptomyces. They are typically aerobic saprophytes producing begetative areial mycelium. -->

 

© Webster 1913.

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