Biology:Streptococcus ferus

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Short description: Species of bacterium

Streptococcus ferus
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Bacillota
Class: Bacilli
Order: Lactobacillales
Family: Streptococcaceae
Genus: Streptococcus
Species:
S. ferus
Binomial name
Streptococcus ferus
(ex Coykendall 1977) Coykendall 1983
Streptococcus viridans blood agar culture

Overview

Streptococcus ferus is a facultatively anaerobic, gram-positive species of the genus Streptococcus.[1] The species is a member of the Viridans streptococci group [2] which are a large mixed-group of mostly alpha-hemolytic streptococci.[3] The alpha-hemolytic bacteria are ones that exhibit a partial hemolysis with green coloration when grown on sheep blood agar[4] (see image.)

Ecology

Streptococcus ferus was originally isolated from the oral cavity wild rats who were living in sugar cane fields and eating a high sucrose diet [5] The species name ferus, meaning wild, refers to their association with these animals.[5] More recently the strain has also been isolated from the nasal and oral cavities of pigs.[1] The species has not been identified in any other host organisms.

Morphology

Streptococcus ferus are gram positive lanceolate coccobacillus[1] Non-motile and approximately 0.5 micrometers in diameter.[6] They are non-sporulating and catalase-negative[1] The majority of specimens test positive for the production of acetoin (Vogues-Proskauer reaction).[5] They occur singly, in pairs or in short chains.[5]

Pathogenicity

Streptococcus ferus is commensal in wild rats and pigs and demonstrates a relatively weak cariogenic potential compared to other streptococcus species such as S. mutans[7] S. ferus has not had any reported pathogenic instances in humans.[6]

History

Streptococcus ferus was originally proposed as a species in 1977 [5]

References

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q7623350 entry