What is the Difference Between Streptomyces and Streptococcus

The main difference between Streptomyces and Streptococcus is that Streptomyces is a filamentous bacterium whereas Streptococcus is a spherical-shaped bacterium.

Streptomyces and Streptococcus are two Gram-positive bacterial genera. Generally, Streptomyces undergoes complex secondary metabolism, producing over two third of the clinically useful antibiotics. On the other hand, streptococcus is a lactic acid bacterium (LAB).

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Streptomyces
   • Definition, Features, Importance
2. What is Streptococcus
   • Definition, Features, Importance
3. Similarities Between Streptomyces and Streptococcus
   • Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Streptomyces and Streptococcus
   • Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Streptococcus, Streptomyces

What is Streptomyces

Streptomyces is the largest genus of the phylum Actinomycetota and the type genus of the family Streptomycetaceae. In addition to being a Gram-positive bacterium, the most significant feature of Streptomyces is their high GC content. Streptomyces produces spores. Found predominantly in soil and decaying vegetation, Streptomyces is noted for its distinct “earthy” odor that results from the production of a volatile metabolite, geosmin.

Figure 1: Streptomyces

Furthermore, the main characteristic feature of Streptomyces is the production of antibiotics in its complex secondary metabolism. In general, some examples of antibiotics for Streptomyces include neomycin, cypemycin, grisemycin, bottromycins, and chloramphenicol. Moreover, Streptomyces are infrequent pathogens, causing infections such as mycetoma in humans.

What is Streptococcus

Streptococcus is a genus of gram-positive coccus or spherical bacteria that belongs to the family Streptococcaceae, within the order Lactobacillales (lactic acid bacteria). Their cell division occurs along a single axis. As they grow, they tend to form pairs or chains that may appear bent or twisted. This genus also has broad significance in medicine and industry. Ecologically, various streptococci are important as part of the normal microbial flora of animals and humans. Of them, some can also cause diseases that range from subacute to acute or even chronic. Some of the diseases generally attributable to streptococci in humans are scarlet fever, rheumatic heart disease, glomerulonephritis, and pneumococcal pneumonia.

Figure 2: Streptococcus

Moreover, Streptococci are essential in industrial and dairy processes. This bacterium is most common in decomposing plant materials and milk products. Furthermore, the major metabolic end-product of carbohydrate metabolism is the lactic acid in Streptococcus.

Similarities Between Streptomyces and Streptococcus

• Streptomyces and Streptococcus are two types of Gram-positive bacteria.
• Furthermore, their metabolism is economically important.

Difference Between Streptomyces and Streptococcus

Definition

Streptomyces refers to any of a genus of mostly soil; some that form antibiotics as by-products of their metabolism while Streptococcus refers to a bacterium of a genus that includes the agents of the souring of milk and dental decay, and hemolytic pathogens causing various infections such as scarlet fever and pneumonia.

Family

Streptomyces belongs to the Family Streptomycetaceae while Streptococcus belongs to the Family Streptococcaceae.

GC Content

Moreover, Streptomyces has a high GC content while Streptococcus has a low GC content.

Occurrence

Streptomyces occurs in the soil while Streptococcus occurs in the normal flora of animals and humans.

Shape

In addition, Streptomyces is a filamentous bacterium while Streptococcus is a spherical-shaped bacterium.

Spore Formation

Streptomyces forms spores while Streptococcus does not form spores.

Importance

Streptomyces produces antibiotics through their secondary metabolism while Streptococcus undergoes lactic acid fermentation.

Pathogenicity

Streptomyces is not pathogenic; Streptomyces somaliensis causes mycetoma while some species cause plant diseases. Streptococcus, on the other hand, is a species responsible for many cases of pink eye, meningitis, bacterial pneumonia, endocarditis, erysipelas, and necrotizing fasciitis.

Conclusion

In brief, Streptomyces and Streptococcus are two bacterial genera of Gram-positive bacteria. Normally, Streptomyces is filamentous and streptococcus is spherical. On the other hand, Streptomyces contains a higher GC content while Streptococcus has a lower GC content. Both Streptomyces and Streptococcus are economically important. Streptomyces produces a large number of antibiotics in their secondary metabolism. In contrast, streptococcus is a lactic acid bacterium, forming lactic acid in their carbohydrate fermentation. Therefore, this is the main difference between Streptomyces and Streptococcus.

References:

1. Bowden GHW. Actinomyces, Propionibacterium propionicus, and Streptomyces. In: Baron S, editor. Medical Microbiology. 4th edition. Galveston (TX): University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 1996. Chapter 34.
2. Patterson MJ. Streptococcus. In: Baron S, editor. Medical Microbiology. 4th edition. Galveston (TX): University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 1996. Chapter 13.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Streptomyces sp 01” By CDC Public Health Image Library – Own Work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Actinomyces isStreptococci” By User:Graham Beards – Own Work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia