streptococcus

Term: streptococcus

Literally meaning: “twisted chain of grains”

Origin: Anc Greek

στρεπτός/streptos(=twisted)

+κόκκος/kokkos?(=round seed)

Coined/History

The name derived because of streptococcus' shape under the microscope, like a twisted bunch of little round grains.

Definition

Streptococcus is a genus of spherical Gram-positive bacteria that occurs in pairs or chains including many pathogenic species.