Streptococcus intermedius

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Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Firmicutes; Bacilli; Lactobacillales; Streptococcaceae; Streptococcus

Species

NCBI: [1]

Streptococcus Intermedius

Description and significance

Streptococcus intermedius is a Gram-positive bacterium that is a part of the normal flora in the oral cavity, as well as the upper respiratory, female urogenital, and gastrointestinal tracts [1][14-16][18][21]. It may also be found in human feces and is the dominant species found in subginival plaque [14][27]. Although this organism is a commensal organism of the habitats listed above, it is also an opportunistic pathogen [27]. Findings from a recent study suggest that this species is the most pathogenic of the species that comprise the Streptococcus anginosus group [17]. It is usually found as a solitary isolate associated with deep – seated purulent abscesses, typically found in the brain or liver, central nervous system infections, and infective endocarditis [1-3][12][17][19][20][25][26].

Current Research

Ongoing research is focused on elucidating the mechanisms behind the pathogenicity of the different virulence factors of Streptococcus intermedius [21][29][37][38]. There is also a research effort to develop rapid biomolecular methods to identify Streptococcus intermedius accurately against the other species in the Streptococcus anginosus group [19], and to determine its antibiotic resistance. Treatment options for Streptococcus intermedius are in development [18][40].

References

[1] [Whiley, R.A., and Beighton, D. 1991. Emended descriptions and recognition of Streptococcus constellatus, Streptococcus intermedius, and Streptococcus anginosus as distinct species. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 41(1): 1-5.]

Edited by [Elaine Wu], student of Jennifer Talbot for BI 311 General Microbiology 2014, Boston University.