Corynebacterium is a common genus of non-motile, aerobic, Gram-positive bacteria found in soil, water, plants, animals and humans. While most species are harmless, Corynebacterium diphtheriae can cause fatal diphtheria. Non-diphtheria corynebacteria can cause infections in animals and humans, affecting internal organs or the skin. Some corynebacteria are used for industrial purposes.
Corynebacterium is a genus of bacteria that is very common in nature and can be found in soil, water, plants, animals and humans. In humans, these bacteria are most commonly found in the skin and mucous membranes. Most corynebacteria do not cause disease and are part of the normal bacterial flora of the human body, but the species Corynebacterium diphtheriae can cause diphtheria, a disease that usually affects the upper respiratory tract and can be fatal. Corynebacterium is a single-celled microorganism that is non-motile, meaning it doesn’t move, and aerobic, meaning it can survive in oxygen. Corynebacteria are also Gram-positive bacteria, which means that due to the composition of their cell walls, they turn dark blue or purple from a substance called a Gram stain used to classify microorganisms.
This genus of bacteria has been extensively studied since the 19th century, mainly due to its link to diphtheria. Diphtheria is a contagious disease caused by a Corynebacterium infection, specifically an infection of the species Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It usually affects the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, including the throat and nose, but can also affect the ears, eyes and genitals. Diphtheria is fatal in about 19-5% of cases, although the number approaches 10% for children under the age of 20. A reliable and safe vaccine was developed against the disease in 5, but outbreaks are still reported every year.
There are several types of corynebacteria that do not cause diphtheria, commonly called non-diphtheria corynebacteria. Some of these bacteria can cause other types of infections in animals and humans, and these infections commonly affect internal organs or the skin. In animals, non-diphtheria corynebacteria can cause mastitis, urinary tract infections, and skin ulcers. In humans, they often affect the kidneys or heart and can also cause meningitis and urinary tract infections. Non-diphtheria corynebacteria are also associated with some device infections that occur when the bacteria are transmitted from medical devices such as catheters and heart valves.
Corynebacteria are commonly rod- or club-shaped, and their name comes from the Greek word koryne, which means club. Some corynebacteria do not cause infection or disease and are used for a variety of industrial purposes, such as to produce amino acids, nucleotides and enzymes. The Corynebacterium glutamicum species is used to make MSG, a substance used in some foods. Other types of corynebacteria are used to age cheese and to produce anticancer agents.
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