Diphtheria
From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
University of Oklahoma Study Abroad Microbiology in Arezzo, Italy[1]
Etiology/Bacteriology
Taxonomy
| Domain = Bacteria | Phylum = Actinobacteria | Class = Actinobacteria | Order = Actinomycetales | Family = Corynebacteriaceae | Genus = Corynebacterium | Species = Diphtheriae
Description
Diphtheria is caused by an infection of C. diphtheriae. Four subspecies are recognized: C. d. mitis, C. d. intermedius, C. d. gravis, and C. d. belfanti. In sufficiently low iron concentrations, 'C. diphtheria' is known to produce diphtheria toxins.
