Hybridization studies show that there is no close genetic relationship between the species of Micrococcus bacteria. Continuing without changing cookie settings assumes you consent to our use of cookies on this device. In the case of a negative test, no colour change is observed. Each family of Gram-positive cocci has its own unique configuration. Wikipedia contributors. They are positive for catalase and oxidase ( modified). I extracted the DNA using the PowerSoil DNA kit (manufactured by Qiagen) following manufacturer instructions. Pearls of Laboratory Medicine Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. The negative oxidase result conflicts with M. luteus (Public Health England). The results of this analysis are shown in table 1. . Micrococcus species are oxidase-positive, which can be used to distinguish them from other bacteria like most Staphylococcus species, which are generally oxidase-negative. There have been several deaths in immuno-compromised children that are caused by. // The kaiju metagenome binning shows that the microbe sample is not completely pure (Figure 2). Complete lysis of the erythrocytes in the vicinity of the growing colony. Micrococcus luteus was one of the early examples of novel codon usage,[5][6] which led to the conclusion that the genetic code is not static, but evolves. . Your email address will not be published. Three bacteria, E.coli, Staphylococcus epidermis, and Micrococcus luteus, have been grown on TSI or Triple sugar iron agar medium, which is a . They grow in circular, entire, convex, and creamy yellow-pigmented colonies with diameters of approximately 4 mm after 2-3 days at 37C. 2014). Reduction of O2 produces superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide, or the hydroxyl radical. I performed a Gram stain test to identify if the bacterium was gram negative or positive, as described in the Lab 4 handout. These organisms range in virulence potential from commensal organisms found on the skin and mucous membranes to pathogens associated with serious infections. all 3 tests done w/SIM deeps just add Kovac's reagent for Indole test Alcaligenes faecalis (left) - . Streptococcus spp. I suspect that the API 20E test strip results were negated by having used an inactive colony, as the fluid thyoglycate test failed as well. They are indole negative, oxidase-positive, catalase-positive, and citrate negative. Micrococcus spp. Similar to the situation in the prosthetic valve endocarditis that is caused by more aggressive and highly resistant bacteria. . They can even survive in conditions that have very little of even no oxygen, using glycolysis and alternative electron acceptors to create ATP. The confidence on that reading is decently confident, evidenced by the blue coloring. Results: Regarding the gram stain test, my isolate was gram variable, I ensured that the strain was fresh so that the age of the culture was the same throughout the test. The differentiation is based on the detection of the oxidase enzymes. So far there are two genome sequences that have been done. Although the initial placement of the Gram- positive cocci into broad categories is relatively easy, further classification of some isolates can be challenging and requires a battery of tests to arrive at a definitive identification. The catalase test facilitates the detection of the enzyme catalase in bacteria. Cells are catalase positive, oxidase positive, and exhibit strictly aerobic metabolism. Micrococcus spp. Growth can produce colonies of a certain size and consistency, as well as pigmentation. Whereas the M. variant has a G-C content of about 66-72mol%. 1. Washington, DC 20001 They are also catalase-positive and often weakly oxidase-positive ( modified oxidase test positive). Lastly, do not underestimate the variety of different genera in the four families of the Gram- positive cocci that can, under the right circumstances, move from relatively harmless saprophytes to disease-producing opportunists. For example, M. luteus and M. lylae are 40-50% genetically different. This bacterium is often arranged in the form of circular tetrads and it forms bright yellow colonies on nutrient agar. This can occur due to the presence of a reduced number of, Most of the Micrococcus infections are discovered through the process of elimination along with the presence of the abundant Micrococcus tetrads in the lesions or cysts. It is Gram positive, Coagulase positive, catalase and oxidase positive non-motile bacteria. They grow in circular, entire, convex, and usually non-pigmented or cream white colonies with diameters of approximately 4 mm after 2-3 days on the plate at 37C. Source: Trainee Council in English, Hello, my name is Dr. Karen Krisher. Reaction: To test for the presence of alpha amylase, a starch hydrolysis test can be performed. They are likely involved in the biodegradation of many other environmental pollutants or detoxification. They contain cytochromes and are resistant to lysostaphin. Enterococcus faecalis. Micrococcus luteus can synthesize the iso-branched and anteiso-branched alkenes by the head-to-head condensation of fatty-acid thioesters. I chose to sample bacteria from inside my roommates nose. Biochemical Test and Identification of Staphylococcus aureus. Although it's tempting to write a summary of the entire study but it . Members of the Staphylcocci can be differentiated based on production of the enzyme coagulase. It is essential for differentiating catalase-positive Micrococcaceae from catalase-negative Streptococcaceae. I then streaked the exposed swab onto a petri dish to allow the organisms to grow, incubating them at 25 degrees Celsius in a dark cabinet. The majority of staphylococcal species produce non-pigmented colonies with smooth margins, as opposed to the important pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus, which produces the characteristic colonies seen here. Some are based on monoclonal antibodies, and others on simple, rapid . The partial decomposition of the hemoglobin of the erythrocytes by a weaker hemolysin. Micrococcus A study with 188 micrococci, identified only to the genus level, demonstrated MICs at achievable concentrations for most -lactams, aminoglycosides, glycopeptides, clindamycin and the most active drug in vitro, rifampin. . Examples of the colony morphology associated with each family is represented on this slide. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Like all Staphylococci, S. saprophyticus is also clustering Gram-positive cocci, nonmotile, non-spore-forming, and . If I were to continue researching this isolate, I would redo the API 20 E test strip with a fresh, active culture to ensure that it can reduce nitrate, and also the oxidase test to ensure that it does have cytochrome c oxidase present, which it should according to Public Health England. Included in the observation of the morphology of the colony is the effect that the bacterial growth has on the sheep erythrocytes in the agar medium. At U.S. Micro Solutions, our microbiology laboratory is a licensed, accredited source for thorough and accurate environmental testing . In contrast to staphylococci, usually, penicillin is sensitive. Micrococcus (pleural-micrococci) is free-living in the environment and also normal flora of the skin. Micrococcus as the cause of infections is easy to overlook because the infections that are caused by this bacterium are rare as well as the bacterium is a natural part of the skin's bacterial flora. I used the Kirby-Bauer, or disk diffusion test to test for this, described in lab handout 9. It is difficult to differentiate Kocuria from Micrococcus with conventional biochemical methods; therefore, these organisms are often reported together as Micrococcus/Kocuria species. These discrepancies could be due to human error, unpure culture, or an old agar plate. Whereas the M. variant has a G-C content of about 66-72mol%. Maximum production of pigments was observed at 35C, pH 9 and at 4% (W/V) NaCl concentration. Perkins1, Sarah D., Jennie Mayfield2, and Victoria Fraser3 And. A rare case of prosthetic valve endocarditis is caused by Micrococcus luteus, it is described and compared with the few cases that are reported in the literature, as well as the clinical features, microbiological profile, therapy, and prognosis of common prosthetic valve endocarditis. The agglutinability of the cells with antiserum containing anti-teichuronic acid antibody was examined. Micrococcus luteus is another gram-positive coccus that also is catalase positive. Micrococcus luteus pigment (Yellow) GLUCOSE FERMENTATION TEST This test detects the ability of the bacterium to break down glucose to pyruvic acid. This microbe is coccus shaped and forms in tetrads. The differentiation of the Gram-positive cocci encompasses 4 main exercises used to compare and contrast the characteristics of each family: These four tests will, as we shall see, allow for the differentiation of the families of organisms and will guide the laboratorian to other more definitive tests for the identification of the organism. It shows that the sample contains bacteria from the Terrabacteria group. Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates. Micrococci have been isolated from the human skin, animal and dairy products, and in beer. 900 Seventh Street, NW Suite 400 The species Micrococcus luteus (Schroeter 1872) Cohn 1872 (Approved Lists 1980) emend. It has been isolated from human skin. Shape (Cocci/Diplococci/Rods) Cocci. These families of bacteria produce colonies which are variable both in size, consistency, and the type of hemolysis produced on sBAP. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Built with Enlightenment Theme and WordPress. While defining the characteristics of the Micrococcus are the ability to produce acid aerobically from the aesculin hydrolysis, glucose glycerol, arginine dihydrolase, motility, major pigment production, and conversion of nitrate to nitrite. The laboratory assay is performed by mixing a sample of the bacterial colony with a drop(s) of hydrogen peroxide placed on a microscope slide. The catalase test did return positive by bubbling, indicating that it does have the ability to break down the radical hydrogen peroxide into diatomic oxygen and hydrogen. This lines up with M. luteus resistances from the tests. Micrococci are microbiologically characterized as gram-positive cocci, 0.5 to 3.5 m (micrometres; 1 m = 10-6 metre) in diameter. I think that this culture was mostly Micrococcus luteus based on the Kaiju and metagenome binning results. The results of these tests provide a biochemical profile, or "fingerprint," that can be used to classify or even identify the bacterial species. Because of their diversity, there are a variety of biochemical tests that are used by laboratories to identify the Gram-positive cocci. Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a Gram-positive, coagulase-negative coccus that is an important part of the group of microorganisms causing urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly in young sexually active females. Results of the biochemical tests demonstrated that the M. luteus and M. varians strains could be distinguished by their actions on glucose and nitrate reduction (Table I). A positive test leads to the development of blue or purple-blue on the disc within two minutes. Following incubation at 37oC, if the plasma forms a clot, the organism is coagulase positive. 2019). The Bacterial Genomic DNA Isolation Kit provides convenient and simple step-by-step method for isolating quality genomic DNA from gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial species. Table 2: Graph of the genomic reads by taxonomic level using Korona. Most of these are mesophiles; some, like Micrococcus antarcticus which is found in Antarctica, are psychrophiles. I also grew it in a MacConkey (MAC) plate to see if it could ferment lactose and if it could grow with both crystal violet and bile salts to further confirm if it was gram negative or positive. appear as agents of infection causing endocarditis. Under the microscope they are round cells. Alpha-hemolytic colonies often assume a greenish hue. I repeated this process three more times to further purify the colony. Enterococcus spp. As the microbe is gram positive this means that it has a large peptidoglycan layer and lacks a lipopolysaccharide layer. It has survived for at least 34,000 to 170,000 years, as assessed by 16S rRNA analysis, and possibly much longer. For the micrococci, susceptibility to the antimicrobial agents, bacitracin and furazolidone, as well as the modified oxidase test can be performed to distinguish this group from the staphylococci. Bharath. They have a respiratory metabolism, often producing little or no acid from carbohydrates, and are usually halotolerant, growing in 5% NaCl. Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, when dealing with Micrococcus infections, it usually takes several cultures that are being grown and examined before one realizes that Micrococcus is indeed the culprit. View Online Copy of Unknown ID Chart.xlsx from BIOL 250L at University of South Carolina. Mannitol salt agar (MSA) is a selective, differential, and indicator medium used to isolate and identify Staphylococcus aureus from the clinical specimen. M. luteus has the capability to show dormancy without the formation of spores. AACC uses cookies to ensure the best website experience. See answer (1) best answer. We found this to be true because the filter paper turned blue, which showed that the species has the cytochrome c oxidase enzyme. Micrococcus luteuswere discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming before he discovered penicillin in 1928. They are generally strict aerobes and these can generally reduce nitrate concentration. The fluid thioglycallate test showed that the bacteria was an obligate aerobe because the growth was concentrated at the top of the tube in the pink region. The family, Micrococcaceae, has been shrinking. When using a fluid thyoglycollate test it resulted in the isolate being a strict aerobe, with all of the bacterium being at the top of the medium where it is oxygenic. It is Gram-positive cocci in tetrads, catalase-positive, coagulase-negative, arranged in clusters that differ from Staphylococcus in attacking sugars oxidatively which may appear in irregular clusters, groups of four or eight. Micrococcus luteus is a constituent of the normal human buccal bacterial flora which forms yellowish colonies and appears as a gram-positive coccus typically arranged in tetrads. Each genus lends itself to a separate tutorial. Micrococcus luteus ( Scanning electron micrograph ) Micrococcus luteus is a Gram-positive bacterium of the genus Micrococcus. This is termed alpha () hemolysis and results in a greenish color surrounding the colony. From: Infectious Diseases (Third Edition), 2010 View all Topics About this page Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 122(1):17-24. Micrococcus luteus characteristics possess unusual abilities to tolerate and to use very toxic organic molecules as carbon sources and it combines these activities with tolerance to metals. Micrococci can often carry plasmids that provide the organism with useful traits. I grew my bacteria on an Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) plate to see if it could ferment lactose and if it could grow with methylene blue which selects for gram negative bacteria. Several uncommon strains produce raised colonies with translucent, depressed centers. After you have cultivated your organism on agar media, the next step is the microscopic examination. We will discuss this shortly. It can be easily be mistaken for staphylococci, as they are very similar morphologically and physiologically (Wikipedia, Staphlyococcus Aureus). Micrococcus varians Micrococcus luteus Staphylococcus saprophyticus Staphylococcus epidermidis Streptococcus pneumoniae Streptococcus mitis It had 27,372 contigs in assembly. They grow in circular, entire, convex, and creamy yellow-pigmented colonies with diameters of approximately 4 mm after 2-3 days at 37C. Micrococcus luteus are Gram-positive, to Gram-variable, motile -non motile, that are 0.5 to 3.5 micrometers in diameter and usually arranged in tetrads or irregular clusters. These residential skin organisms are also fairly ubiquitous in the environment. Recently, as an opportunistic pathogen, this organism was recognized and it has been implicated in recurrent bacteremia, septic arthritis, septic shock, endocarditis, intracranial suppuration, meningitis, and cavitating pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients.