What is the function of Streptococcus pneumoniae?
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an infectious pathogen responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. Diseases caused by this bacterium are classified as pneumococcal diseases. This pathogen colonizes the nasopharynx of its host asymptomatically, but overtime can migrate to sterile tissues and organs and cause infections.
How does Streptococcus pneumoniae infect the host?
Streptococcus pneumoniae also makes a toxin, pneumolysin, that promotes shedding and in turn enhances bacterial transmission (59). Pneumolysin induces inflammation in hosts during colonization and this promotes bacterial shedding (59).
Are strain of Diplococcus pneumoniae is?
S. pneumoniae (also known as pneumococcus or Diplococcus pneumoniae) is the major cause of acute bacterial pneumonia and otitis media. S. pneumoniae is also a transient commensal, colonizing the throat and upper respiratory tract of 40% of humans.
Is Streptococcus pneumoniae a gram positive Diplococcus with a capsule?
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) are gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic, aerobic, encapsulated diplococci.
What infection does Streptococcus pneumoniae cause?
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of middle ear infections, sepsis (blood infection) in children and pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals and the elderly. It can also cause meningitis (inflammation of the coverings of the brain and spinal cord) or sinus infections.
How do you get Streptococcus pneumoniae?
Streptococcus pneumoniae is spread from person to person by the inhalation of respiratory droplets (e.g. coughing, sneezing) from an infected person. It is not known why certain individuals develop invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae disease while others do not.
What are the symptoms of Streptococcus pneumoniae?
Symptoms can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, stiff neck, confusion, increased sensitivity to light, joint pain, chills, ear pain, sleeplessness, and irritability. In severe cases, pneumococcal disease can cause hearing loss, brain damage, and death.
What is the difference between pneumonia and Streptococcus pneumoniae?
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a normal inhabitant of the human upper respiratory tract. The bacterium can cause pneumonia, usually of the lobar type, paranasal sinusitis and otitis media, or meningitis, which is usually secondary to one of the former infections.
What causes Diplococcus pneumonia?
Pneumococcal disease is caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). People with pneumococcal disease can spread the bacteria to others when they cough or sneeze. Symptoms of pneumococcal infection depend on the part of the body affected.
How is Streptococcus pneumoniae harmful?
What is gram-positive diplococcus?
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a gram-positive, encapsulated, lancet-shaped diplococci, most commonly causing otitis media, pneumonia, sinusitis, and meningitis. Streptococcus viridans consist of Strep.
Is pneumococcal pneumonia gram-positive or negative?
Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is the classic example of a highly invasive, Gram-positive, extracellular bacterial pathogen. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally causing more deaths than any other infectious disease.