''Rothia kristinae'' is a

Gram positive In bacteriology, gram-positive bacteria are bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test, which is traditionally used to quickly classify bacteria into two broad categories according to their type of cell wall. The Gram stain i ...

bacterium. ''R. kristinae'' is a common human skin organism, but can cause

opportunistic infection An opportunistic infection is an infection that occurs most commonly in individuals with an immunodeficiency disorder and acts more severe on those with a weakened immune system. These types of infections are considered serious and can be caused b ...

s in humans.

Background

In 1974, a novel bacterium was isolated from the skin of a healthy adult woman. The novel species was originally named ''Micrococcus kristinae'', and was named after the person from which it was first isolated (Kristin Holding). (''

Micrococcus lylae ''Micrococcus lylae'' is a gram positive bacterium. The normal habitat for this ''Micrococcus'' species is skin, dust, and water. Its type strain is ATCC 27566. It grows in tetrads, irregular clusters, and cubical packets of eight, and colonies a ...

'' was also first isolated during the same study) In 1995, the species was reclassified into the genus ''Kocuria'' as ''Kocuria kristinae''. In 2018, further studies reclassified the species into genus '' Rothia'' as ''Rothia kristinae''. ''R. kristinae'' is Gram-positive, and the cells are

coccoid Coccoid means shaped like or resembling a coccus, that is, spherical.The noun coccoid or coccoids may refer to: * a level of organization, characterized by unicellular, non-flagellated, non-amoeboid organisms, with a definite shape, in general bu ...

which tend to group together as tetrads. It is slightly facultatively anaerobic, and forms pale cream to pale orange colonies when grown on agar. The optimum growth range is 25–37 °C, and is resistant to

lysozyme Lysozyme (, muramidase, ''N''-acetylmuramide glycanhydrolase; systematic name peptidoglycan ''N''-acetylmuramoylhydrolase) is an antimicrobial enzyme produced by animals that forms part of the innate immune system. It is a glycoside hydrolase ...

. ''R. kristinae'' is a common skin and

oral The word oral may refer to: Relating to the mouth * Relating to the mouth, the first portion of the alimentary canal that primarily receives food and liquid **Oral administration of medicines ** Oral examination (also known as an oral exam or ora ...

microorganism in humans. However, it can cause opportunistic infections for the

immunocompromised Immunodeficiency, also known as immunocompromise, is a state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious diseases and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. Most cases are acquired ("secondary") due to extrinsic factors that affe ...

References

External links

Vumicro entryLPSNType strain of ''Kocuria kristinae'' at Bac''Dive'' - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase
Micrococcaceae Bacteria described in 1974 {{Actinobacteria-stub