Final answer:
The correct way to write the binomial name of 'Staphylococcus aureus' in a scientific journal is with the genus name capitalized and the species name in lowercase, both in italics or underlined. This conforms to international nomenclature standards and is vital for accurately identifying this medically significant bacterium.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct way to write the binomial name of an organism in a scientific journal article is Staphylococcus aureus. The genus name Staphylococcus should be capitalized and in italics or underlined, and the species name aureus should be in lowercase and also either italics or underlined. This naming convention follows the guidelines of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICNafp) and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), which are accepted by scientists worldwide.
Furthermore, Staphylococcus aureus is a critical organism to identify correctly due to its medical importance, especially since some strains, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are resistant to commonly used antibiotics and can cause serious infections. The use of a mannitol salt agar plate can distinguish S. aureus by its ability to ferment mannitol, changing the color of the medium to yellow, which is useful in laboratory identification.