Staphylococcus

Staphylococcus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria in the family Staphylococcaceae in the order Bacillales. Under the microscope, they appear spherical (cocci), and form in grape-like clusters. Staphylococcus species are facultative anaerobic organisms (capable of growth both aerobically and anaerobically). The name was coined in 1880 by Scottish surgeon and bacteriologist Alexander Ogston (1844-1929), following the pattern established five years earlier with the naming of Streptococcus. It combines the prefix 'staphylo-' (from Ancient Greek: σταφυλή, romanized: staphylē, lit. 'bunch of grapes'), and suffixed by the Modern Latin: coccus, lit. 'spherical bacterium' (from Ancient Greek: κόκκος, romanized: kókkos, lit. 'grain, seed, berry'). Staphylococcus includes at least 40 species. Of these, nine have two subspecies, one has three subspecies, and one has four subspecies. Most are harmless and reside normally on the skin and mucous membranes of humans and other organisms. Staphylococcus has been found to be a nectar-inhabiting microbe. Found worldwide, they are a small component of soil microbial flora. Shape = ovoid/spherical Appearance = Grape like appearance The taxonomy is based on 16s rRNA sequences, and most of the staphylococcal species fall into 11 clusters: A 12th group – that of S. caseolyticus – has now been removed to a new genus, Macrococcus, the species of which are currently the closest known relatives of Staphylococcus. Two species were described in 2015 - Staphylococcus argenteus and Staphylococcus schweitzeri - both of which were previously considered variants of S. aureus. A new coagulase negative species - Staphylococcus edaphicus - has been isolated from Antarctica. This species is probably a member of the S. saprophyticus group. S. aureus subsp. aureusS. aureus subsp. anaerobius