What is Corynebacterium?

corynebacterium is a genus of bacteria, which has very common in nature and can be found in soil, water, plants, animals and people. In humans, these bacteria most often occur in the skin and mucous membranes. Most corynebacteria does not cause disease and is part of a normal bacterial flora of the human body, but the type Corynebacterium diphtheriae can cause diphtheria, a disease that usually affects the upper respiratory tract and can be fatal. Corynebacterium is a unicellular microorganism that is not motorile, which means that it does not move and aerobic, which means it can survive in oxygen. Corynebacteria are also gram -positive bacteria, which means that due to their cell walls, they are made of dark blue or purple substances called a gram called to classify microorganisms.

This genus of bacteria has been studied extensively since the 19th century, mainly because of its custody. Difteria is contagious diseases caused by corynebacterium infection, specifically infection with Corynebacterium diphtheriae. UsuallyIt affects the mucous membranes of respiratory tract, including the neck and nose, but can also affect ears, eyes and genitals. Difteria is fatal in approximately 5-10% of cases, although the number is closer to 20% in children under 5 years of age. A reliable and safe vaccine was developed against the disease in 1924, but the outbreaks are still reported every year.

There are several types of corynebacteria that do not cause diphtheria, commonly called nedipheri corynebacteria. Some of these bacteria may cause other types of infection in animals and humans, and these infections usually affect internal organs or skin. In animals, nedipherial corynebacteria can cause mastitis, urinary tract infections and skin ulcers. In humans, they often affect kidneys or hearts, and the Andes can also cause infections of meningitis and urinary tract. Nedipheri Corynebacteria are also associated with some infections of the equipment that occur when bacteria are transmittedby means such as catheters and heart valves.

Corynebacteria normally have sticks or club -shaped sticks and their name comes from the Greek word Koryne, which means a club. Some corynebacteria do not cause infection or disease and are used for a wide range of industrial purposes, such as the production of amino acids, nucleotides and enzymes. Corynebacterium glutamicum is used to produce MSG, substances used in some foods. Other types of corynebacteria are used for the age of cheese and for the production of anticancer substances.