streptococcus Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun spherical Gram-positive bacteria occurring in pairs or chains; cause e.g. scarlet fever and tonsillitis
streptococci; strep.

NL., fr. Gr. pliant, curved + a grain, seed.

plural Streptococci

(Biol.) A long or short chain of micrococci, more or less curved. Streptomyces. A genus of gram-positive bacteria growing in long filamentous, often branched chains. They are plentiful in soil and produce the characteristic odor of soils. Some of the species have proved to be useful as sources of important pharmaceutical agents. Of these, the best known are streptomycin, chloramphenicaol, and tetracycline. Streptomycete. Any member of the family of bacteria called Streptomycetaceae, including the genus Streptomyces. They are typically aerobic saprophytes producing begetative areial mycelium.