what are the differences between staphylococcus and streptococcus?

Answer 1

Staphylococcus (in Greek staphyle means bunch of grapes and coccos means granule) is a genus of gram-positive bacteria. Under the microscope they appear round (cocci), and form in grape-like clusters.

There are about thirty species of staphylococci. Most are completely harmless, and reside normally on the skin and mucous membranes of humans and other organisms. They are a small component of soil microbial flora. This genus is found world wide.


Streptococcus is a genus of spherical, Gram-positive bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes.[1] Cellular division occurs along a single axis in these bacteria, and thus they grow in chains or pairs, thus the name — from Greek streptos, meaning easily bent or twisted, like a chain. Constrast this with staphylococci which divide along multiple axes and generate grape-like clusters of cells.

In addition to strep throat, members of this genus are responsible for many cases of meningitis, bacterial pneumonia, endocarditis, erysipelas and even necrotizing fasciitis (so-called 'flesh-eating' bacterial infections). It should be noted, however, that many streptococcal species are harmless.

Streptococci are part of the normal commensal flora of the mouth, skin, intestine and upper respiratory tract of humans.

Answer 2

Two different types of bacteria. ,
In Strep cellular division occurs along a single axis, thus they grow in chains and/or pairs. In Staph, cellular division takes place on multiple axis, thus creating the grape-like clusters. Both are gram-postive bacteria. They can both be responsible for a host of the same diseases.

Answer 3

Besides being two different forms of bacteria...?

Answer 4

location, location, location

oh, and different strains of bacteria...