Streptococcus pneumonia PDF

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2. Shape and arrangement of your pathogen (2 points): Streptococcus pneumoniae has a slightly elongated spherical (cocci) shape. It is usually seen in pairs of cocci but can also be in single short chains. 3. Type of flagella, number and correctly named arrangement of the flagella (example: monotrichous) (1 point) Streptococcus pneumoniae does not have flagella, because it is nonmotile. 4. Capsule or not (If yes, describe what is it made from) (1 point) Yes, it does have a capsule. It is a polysaccharide capsule that serves to protect the bacteria from the host’s immune system. 5. Gram staining status OR acid-fast stain cell wall description. Explain why your pathogen has this status by describing your pathogen's cell wall structure. (2 points) This is a gram positive bacteria because it has a thick peptidoglycan layer in its cell wall, as well as teichoic acid, both of which are characteristic of gram positive bacteria. 6. Can it form endospores? If yes, explain when they form endospores. (1 point) It cannot form spores. 7. Where is your pathogen usually found? (Ex. soil, water, zoonosis, airborne or maybe it only has a human host) (1 point) This pathogen is a normal inhabitant of the upper respiratory tract, and the leading cause of bacterial infections in children and the elderly.

References: Geno, Aaron K., et al., “Pneumococcal Capsules and Their Types: Past, Present, and Future.” Clinical Microbiology Reviews, vol. 28, no. 3, 2015, American Society for Microbiology, https://cmr.asm.org/content/28/3/871, Accessed 22 May 2020. Todar, Kenneth., “Streptococcus Pneumoniae.” Todar’s Online Textbook of Bacteriology, http://textbookofbacteriology.net/S.pneumoniae.html, Accessed 22 May 2020. SEM image: https://www.historyofvaccines.org/index.php/content/sem-streptococcus-pneumoniae TEM image: https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/458318/view/streptococcus-pneumoniae-tem...