Actinomyces overview
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Actinomyces Microchapters |
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Actinomyces overview On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Actinomyces is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria. Some species are anaerobic, while others are facultatively anaerobic . Actinomyces species do not form spores, and, while individual bacteria are rod-shaped, morphologically Actinomyces colonies form fungus-like branched networks of hyphae.[1]
Many Actinomyces species are opportunistic pathogens of humans and other mammals, particularly in the oral cavity.[2] In rare cases, these bacteria can cause actinomycosis, a disease characterized by the formation of abscesses in the mouth, lungs, or the gastrointestinal tract.[3]
Some species are responsible for the smell of topsoil, which is often particularly noticeable after rain.[4]
References
- ↑ Holt JG (editor) (1994). Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology (9th ed. ed.). Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-683-00603-7.
- ↑ Madigan M; Martinko J (editors). (2005). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (11th ed. ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-144329-1.
- ↑ Bowden GHW (1996). Actinomycosis in: Baron's Medical Microbiology (Baron S et al, eds.) (4th ed. ed.). Univ of Texas Medical Branch. (via NCBI Bookshelf) ISBN 0-9631172-1-1.
- ↑ The Sweet Smell of Rain