gnized and extensively studied bacteria that often get more attention during the winter is Streptococcus. There are different strains of strep. Depending on their ability of hemolysis of blood agar, strep can be subdivided into a, b and g hem

The second best-known Streptococcus is group B strep. “Most human group B Streptococci inhibit the lower GI and female genital tracts and belong to the species Streptococcus agalactiae” (1-pp150). For that reason newborn babies are susceptible to group B strep infection. In some cases, mother can be vaccinated or even treated with antibiotic prior to pregnancy. The problem is, in most cases the infection does not show any symptoms. “If the mother, and therefore the baby, lack protective antibody, the Streptococci can invade the mucosa and, in some cases, enter the blood stream.”(1-pp150). Meningitis and neonatal sepsis are two diseases that are frequently caused by group B strep. Meningitis can also be caused by another strain of strep called Streptococcus salivarius. “Streptococcus salivarius is a common inhabitant of the oral musosa that has been associated with infection in different sites. Meningeal infection by this species, generally related to neoplasias or iatrogenia.

olytic (1-pp143). There are many different laboratory tests that can be done to distinguish one strep from the other. Different treatments also have been developed to fight each strain of strep.

Different strains of Streptococci produces different hemolytic results. For that reason, the first test that can separate a beta hemolytic from alpha is to perform blood agar test. “Sheep blood is the blood of choice for primary isolation. It contains a factor that inhibits growth of Haemophilus haemolyticus, which is an organism commonly present in “normal” throats and is easily confused macroscopically with the appearance of beta hemolytic streptococci ”(2). Groups A, B, C, F and G are usually beta hemolytic. These groups are equipped with the toxic enzyme, hemolysin, that has the ability to completely lyse the red blood cell (erythrocyte), creating a clear zone around the colonies. On the other hand, alpha hemolytic strep such as group D and S. pneumoniae are alpha hemolytic. They also lyse red blood cells, but they do it partially, leaving a greenish zone around the colonies. Streptococcus is catalase negative. The catalase test is often used to distinguish between strep a!

Bacteria replicate in a fast pace, and have a high rate of mutation. For that reason, more and more strep strains are becoming drug resistant. Recently in mice experiments in a lab setting “administration of carboxyfullerene via the peritoneum and air pouch at 3 h post-S. pyogenes infection was able to protect 33% of mice from death. Furthermor

Some topics in this essay:
, strep infection, red blood, blood agar, beta hemolytic, red blood cells, blood cells, thick layer peptidoglycan, lyse red blood, layer peptidoglycan, common form, strain strep, thick layer, lyse red, hemolysis blood agar, common form strep,