Anaerococcus is a genus of bacteria. Its type species is ''
Anaerococcus prevotii''. These bacteria are Gram-positive and strictly anaerobic.
The genus Anaerococcus was proposed in 2001.
Its genome was sequenced in August 2009. The genus Anaerococcus is one of six genera classified within the group GPAC (Gram-Positive Anaerobic Cocci).
These six genera (
Peptostreptococcus,
Peptoniphilus
''Peptoniphilus'' is a genus of bacteria in the phylum Bacillota (Bacteria).
Etymology
The name ''Peptoniphilus'' derives from:New Latin noun ''peptonum'', peptone; New Latin adjective ''philus'' from Greek adjective ''philos (φίλος)'' mea ...
,
Parvimonas,
Finegoldia,
Murdochiella, and Anaerococcus) are found in the human body as part of the commensal human microbiota.
It is commonly found in the human
microbiome
A microbiome () is the community of microorganisms that can usually be found living together in any given habitat. It was defined more precisely in 1988 by Whipps ''et al.'' as "a characteristic microbial community occupying a reasonably well ...
and is associated with various infections. Most of the species in this genus can be found among microbes of the skin, human vagina, nasal cavity, oral cavity and feces, often as a pathogen found in
ovarian
The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. T ...
abscess
An abscess is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body. Signs and symptoms of abscesses include redness, pain, warmth, and swelling. The swelling may feel fluid-filled when pressed. The area of redness often extends b ...
es,
chronic wounds and
vaginal discharge.
Moreover, some of the species can be isolated from
foot ulcers
The foot ( : feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made ...
and
knee arthritis
Arthritis of the knee is typically a particularly debilitating form of arthritis. The knee may become affected by almost any form of arthritis.
The word ''arthritis'' refers to inflammation of the joints. Types of arthritis include those related ...
.
It can be present in
urinary tract infection
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that affects part of the urinary tract. When it affects the lower urinary tract it is known as a bladder infection (cystitis) and when it affects the upper urinary tract it is known as a kidney ...
s,
chronic ulcers,
pleural empyema,
blood infection
Bloodstream infections (BSIs), which include bacteremias when the infections are bacterial and fungemias when the infections are fungal, are infections present in the blood. Blood is normally a sterile environment, so the detection of microbe ...
s, and soft tissue
infection
An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dise ...
s. It is involved in polymicrobial infections.
Strains of Anaerococcus were found in the armpit microbiota suggesting some species in this genus could play a role in axillary odor.
Physiology
The genus Anaerococcus are non motile bacteria who can not form spores.
Depending on the species the arrangement can be different. The most common arrangements within this genus are pairs, tetrads, short chains and irregular formations.
Their cells size can differ from 0.6μm to 0.9μm.
However, when they are grown using enrinched blood agar their size can go from 0.5μm to 2μm.
In this genus, there a more than one major cellular fatty acids:
C18:1,
C16:1,
C18 and
C16.
Most species in this genus are indole-negative and coaguase-negative.
In general, the species of Anaerococcus presents susceptibility to penicillins but are resistant to
tetracycline
Tetracycline, sold under various brand names, is an oral antibiotic in the tetracyclines family of medications, used to treat a number of infections, including Acne vulgaris, acne, cholera, brucellosis, plague (disease), plague, malaria, and sy ...
,
erythromycin
Erythromycin is an antibiotic used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. This includes respiratory tract infections, skin infections, chlamydia infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and syphilis. It may also be used duri ...
and
clindamycin
Clindamycin is an antibiotic medication used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections, including osteomyelitis (bone) or joint infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, strep throat, pneumonia, acute otitis media (middle ear infec ...
.
Metabolism
The genus Anaerococcus are classified as