Habitat and Morphology of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Habitat of Streptococcus pneumoniae

1. Streptococcus pneumoniae are found worldwide.
2. Found in primates, livestock and felines.
3. They are the part of normal flora of upper respiratory tract infection in humans.
4. Mostly found in throat and nasal passage.
5. They infection mostly children in winter seasons.
6. They are Mesophilic, 30 to 35°C.

Morphology of Streptococcus pneumoniae

1. They are gram positive bacteria.
2. May lose gram +ve character in older cultures and appear gram –ve.
3. They are non-sporing and non-motile bacteria.
4. May have pili for adherence.
5. They are 0.5 x 1.25 µm in diameter.
6. They are mostly found in pairs (diplococci).
7. Also found singly and in short chains isolated from body liquids.
8. They are lancet-shaped or bullet-shaped.
9. They are capsulated.
10. Capsules has 90+ serotypes.
11. They are alpha (α) hemolytic.
12. They contains more than 500 different surface proteins.

Genomes of Streptococcus pneumoniae

1. Single circular chromosome.
2. 2 million base pair.
3. GC Content: 39.7%.
4. Codes for 1914 proteins and 73 RNA’s.