Describe the genus Staphylococcus. Include at least 5 points about the genus. Describe a step by step process of how you would distinguish between S. aureus and S. epidermidis if you know you are working with the 2 organisms but can't tell them apart.

Staphylococcus is a gram negative bacteria that belongs under family Staphylococcaceae.The name is given as their body shape is spherical(Cocci).

Explanation:

The important characters of Staphylococcus are-

Staphylococcus are facultative anaerobic organism.They are spherical in shape.As they are gram positive bacteria, thus the cell wall is prominant and easily stained with crystal violet and they are grown in bile salts.They are capable of producing coagulase enzyme that cause blood clot.These bacteria divides along two axes and thus form clump of bacteria.

Difference between S. aureus and S.epidermis-

S. aureus is round in shape where as S.epidermis is spherical in shape.S. aureus is a opportunistic pathogen that cause different diseases like skin infection where as S.epidermis is non pathogenic bacteria.S. epidermis form white raised cohesive colony with 1-2 mm in diameter whereas, S.aureus form golden yellow color colony.S.aureus causes hemolysis when it is grown in agar plate whereas  S.epidermis is not hemolyse in blood agar plate.