Micrococcus

A genus of bacteria (family Micrococcaceae) containing Gram-positive, spherical cells that occur in irregular masses. Some species are motile or produce motile mutants. These organisms are saprophytic, facultatively parasitic, or parasitic but are not truly pathogenic. The type species is M. luteus. It is the type genus of the family Micrococcaceae. [micro- + G. kokkos, berry]

- M. conglomeratus a bacterial species found in infections, milk, dairy products, dairy utensils, and water.

- M. luteus a saphrophytic species found in milk and dairy products and on dust particles, it has caused meningitis in humans; it is the type species of the genus M..

- M. varians former name for Kocuria varians.

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mi·cro·coc·cus .mī-krō-'käk-əs n

1) cap a large genus (the type genus of the family Micrococcaceae) of nonmotile gram-positive spherical bacteria that occur in tetrads or irregular clusters and include nonpathogenic forms found on human and animal skin

2) pl -coc·ci -'käk-.(s)ī a small spherical bacterium esp any bacterium of the genus Micrococcus

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n.

a genus of spherical Gram-positive bacteria occurring in colonies. They are saprophytes or parasites. The species M. tetragenus (formerly Gaffkya tetragena) is normally a harmless parasite in humans but it can become pathogenic, causing arthritis, endocarditis, meningitis, or abscesses in tissues. It occurs in groups of four.

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Mi·cro·coc·cus (mi″kro-kokґəs) [micro- + Gr. kokkos berry] a genus of bacteria of the family Micrococcaceae, consisting of spherical, gram-positive, aerobic cells, usually occurring in irregular masses. Saprophytic and nonpathogenic forms are found in soil, water, dust, and dairy products; it is an uncommon cause of infective endocarditis. The type species is M. luґteus.