Definition

1. Noun:
   • A species of bacteria: Streptococcus anhemolyticus is a specific, named species within the genus Streptococcus. The name indicates it is a type of streptococcal bacterium characterized by its lack of hemolysis (the breakdown of red blood cells) when cultured on blood agar plates.

Usage Notes

• This term is a highly specific scientific name for a microorganism. It is used almost exclusively in technical, medical, and microbiological contexts.
• As a proper noun referring to a species, it is typically formatted in italics () in scientific writing. The genus name () is capitalized, while the species epithet () is not.
• It is not used in everyday conversation.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The laboratory report identified the pathogen as Streptococcus anhemolyticus.
  • Research into Streptococcus anhemolyticus is less common than for its hemolytic relatives.

Advanced Usage

• The species epithet "anhemolyticus" is descriptive of the bacterium's biological property: "a-" (meaning without or not) + "hemolyticus" (meaning blood-dissolving). This directly describes its non-hemolytic nature on blood agar.

Variants and Related Words

• Streptococcus (n): The genus name for a large group of Gram-positive, spherical bacteria. Many species are significant to human health.
• Non-hemolytic streptococcus (n): A broader categorical term for any streptococcal species that does not cause hemolysis; is one specific example within this category.

Synonyms

• There are no true synonyms for this precise taxonomic name. In a very general descriptive sense, it could be referred to as a non-hemolytic streptococcal species.

Related Phrases

• Bacterial species: The taxonomic rank to which belongs.
• Blood agar plate: The type of growth medium used to observe the hemolytic properties (or lack thereof) that help identify this bacterium.

Noun

1. a species of bacteria