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Staph aureus, Gram positive or negative coccus or rod?

a) Gram-positive coccus
b) Gram-negative coccus
c) Gram-positive rod
d) Gram-negative rod

User Jeroen Kok
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus, forming grapelike clusters, and grows into opaque white to cream-colored colonies on blood agar.

Step-by-step explanation:

The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus. In a Gram stain test, Staphylococcus aureus appears as spherical cells that form grapelike clusters. When cultured on blood agar, it typically results in opaque white to cream-colored colonies.

Also, Staphylococcus aureus is catalase-positive, differentiating it from Streptococcus species, which are also Gram-positive cocci but are catalase-negative. Based on this information, the correct answer to the student's question is 'a) Gram-positive coccus.'

User Joel Coehoorn
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