Gram Positive Rods

Question 1

What are the two genuses of endospore forming bacteria?

Answer 1

Bacillus and clostridium

Question 2

What are the two important species in the bacillus genus and what do they cause>

Answer 2

Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax, disease of livestock and animals.

Bacillus cereus - causes food poisoning through poorly cooked rice dishes.

Question 3

What are the 4 important species in the clostridium genus and what do they cause?

Answer 3

Clostridium perfringens causes gas gangrene and necrotising bowel disease.

Clostridium tetani causes tetanus

Clostridium botulinum causes botulism - paralysis of eye, face and limbs.

Clostridioides difficile causes diarrhoea.

Question 4

What are the non-endospore forming GPRs?

Answer 4

Lactobacillus, listeria, corynebacterium, actinomycetes

Question 5

What is the role of lactobacillus

Answer 5

Ability to convert glucose into lactic acid, lowering pH. Play an important role in maintenance of vaginal pH.

Question 6

What does genus listeria do?

Answer 6

Causes flu-like illness.

Characterised by infection from dairy products and undercooked chicken.

Question 7

What is the morphology of corynebacterium and what is its key species that causes disease?

Answer 7

Characterised by small, irregular rods. Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes diphtheria

Question 8

What is the characteristic morphology of Actinomycetes?

Answer 8

Branching, filamentous structure that resembles fungi.

Question 9

What do aerobic and anaerobic Actinomycetes do?

Answer 9

Aerobic actinomycetes cause mycetoma, e.g. Nocardia.

Anaerobic actinomycetes cause actinomycosis – suppurative mass.