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
''Peptostreptococcus'' is a genus of anaerobic, Gram-positive, non-spore forming bacteria. The cells are small, spherical, and can occur in short chains, in pairs or individually. They typically move using cilia. ''Peptostreptococcus'' are slow- ...
,
Peptoniphilus
''Peptoniphilus'' is a genus of bacteria in the phylum Bacillota (Bacteria).
Etymology
The name ''Peptoniphilus'' derives from:Neo-Latin noun ''peptonum'', peptone; Neo-Latin adjective ''philus'' from Greek adjective ''philos (φίλος)'' mean ...
,
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 wel ...
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 a gonad in the female reproductive system that produces ova; when released, an ovum travels through the fallopian tube/oviduct into the uterus. There is an ovary on the left and the right side of the body. The ovaries are endoc ...
abscess
An abscess is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body, usually caused by bacterial infection. Signs and symptoms of abscesses include redness, pain, warmth, and swelling. The swelling may feel fluid-filled when pre ...
es,
chronic wound
A chronic wound is a wound
A wound is any disruption of or damage to living tissue, such as skin, mucous membranes, or organs. Wounds can either be the sudden result of direct trauma (mechanical, thermal, chemical), or can develop slowly over t ...
s and
vaginal discharge
Vaginal discharge is a mixture of liquid, cells, and bacteria that lubricate and protect the vagina. This mixture is constantly produced by the cells of the vagina and cervix, and it exits the body through the vaginal opening. The composition, ...
.
Moreover, some of the species can be isolated from
foot ulcers 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 a part of the urinary tract. Lower urinary tract infections may involve the bladder (cystitis) or urethra (urethritis) while upper urinary tract infections affect the kidney (pyel ...
s,
chronic ulcers,
pleural empyema
Pleural empyema is a collection of pus in the pleural cavity. It is caused by microorganisms, usually bacteria. It often happens in the context of a pneumonia, injury, or chest surgery. It is one of the various kinds of pleural effusion. Pleural ...
,
blood infection
Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are infections of blood caused by blood-borne pathogens. The detection of microbes in the blood (most commonly accomplished by blood cultures) is always abnormal. A bloodstream infection is different from sepsis, w ...
s, and soft tissue
infection
An infection is the invasion of tissue (biology), tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host (biology), host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmis ...
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 are 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 antibiotic in the tetracyclines family of medications, used to treat a number of infections, including acne, cholera, brucellosis, plague, malaria, and syphilis. It is available in oral an ...
,
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 ...
and
clindamycin
Clindamycin is a lincosamide 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 (mi ...
.
Metabolism
The genus Anaerococcus are classified as