Streptococcus genus of bacteria are heterogeneous Gram-positive bacteria. They are of great significance in the clinical and dairy industry but some are disease-causing too. They are small-sized bacteria with a diameter of 0.5 μm to 2 μm. Streptococci are spherical or ovoid, and are seen in pairs or as chain-like structures under a microscope.
The general shape of bacterial cells (including Streptococcus) are largely affected by the cell wall and the plane of division. Streptococcus bacteria are elongated unlike micrococci and deinococci that are round in shape. Many studies have found the reason behind it to be the division of Streptococci.
S. pyogenes are round and ovoid in shape and the size ranges from 0.6 – 1.0 μm. They occur in pairs as they divide in one plane. S. pneumoniae, which are 0.5-1.25 μm in diameter, are lancet-shaped bacteria. In Streptococcus, division happens on a single plane and thus they form chain-like structures.
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