Question

Describe the genus Staphylococcus. Include at least 5 points about the genus. Describe a step by step process of how you would distinguish between S. aureus and S. epidermidis if you know you are working with the 2 organisms but can't tell them apart.

Answer 1

Staphylococcus is a gram negative bacteria that belongs under family Staphylococcaceae.The name is given as their body shape is spherical(Cocci).

Step-by-step explanation:

The important characters of Staphylococcus are-

• Staphylococcus are facultative anaerobic organism.
• They are spherical in shape.
• As they are gram positive bacteria, thus the cell wall is prominant and easily stained with crystal violet and they are grown in bile salts.
• They are capable of producing coagulase enzyme that cause blood clot.
• These bacteria divides along two axes and thus form clump of bacteria.

Difference between S. aureus and S.epidermis-

• S. aureus is round in shape where as S.epidermis is spherical in shape.
• S. aureus is a opportunistic pathogen that cause different diseases like skin infection where as S.epidermis is non pathogenic bacteria.
• S. epidermis form white raised cohesive colony with 1-2 mm in diameter whereas, S.aureus form golden yellow color colony.
• S.aureus causes hemolysis when it is grown in agar plate whereas S.epidermis is not hemolyse in blood agar plate.