Difference Between Actinomyces and Actinomycetes

The key difference between actinomyces and actinomycetes is that actinomyces is a genus of actinomycetes, which are anaerobic and not acid-fast, while actinomycetes are a group of filamentous and higher bacteria that are gram-positive. ... Actinomycetes grow as colonies that resemble mycelia of fungi.

1. Why actinomycetes are called actinobacteria?
2. What do actinomycetes do?
3. What are the characteristics of actinomycetes?
4. Are the actinomycetes considered bacteria or fungi?
5. What disease is caused by Actinomyces?
6. Where are actinomycetes found?
7. Is actinomycosis curable?
8. How is Actinomyces transmitted?
9. How do I know if I have actinomycetes?
10. Do actinomycetes produce antibiotics?
11. How do you isolate actinomycetes?

Why actinomycetes are called actinobacteria?

In this role the colonies often grow extensive mycelia, like a fungus would, and the name of an important order of the phylum, Actinomycetales (the actinomycetes), reflects that they were long believed to be fungi.

What do actinomycetes do?

Actinomyces species are ubiquitous, occurring in soil and in the microbiota of animals, including the human microbiota. They are known for the important role they play in soil ecology; they produce a number of enzymes that help degrade organic plant material, lignin, and chitin.

What are the characteristics of actinomycetes?

4.4. 2 Actinomycetes

Are the actinomycetes considered bacteria or fungi?

Actinomycetes are a group of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in the order Actinomycetales. These organisms are phylogenetically diverse but morphologically similar, exhibiting characteristic filamentous branching structures which then fragment into bacillary or coccoid forms (1) (Figure 1).

What disease is caused by Actinomyces?

Actinomycosis is a rare infectious bacterial disease caused by Actinomyces species. About 70% of infections are due to either Actinomyces israelii or A. gerencseriae. Infection can also be caused by other Actinomyces species, as well as Propionibacterium propionicus, which presents similar symptoms.

Where are actinomycetes found?

Actinomycetes are found in many habitats, such as freshwater, sea- water, cold- and warm-blooded animals, and composts. The soil, however, is their most important habitat. Viable counts of several millions per gram are common, and over 20 genera have been isolated from soil (Table 45-1).

Is actinomycosis curable?

Antibiotics are the primary treatment for actinomycosis. High doses of penicillin are usually necessary to cure the infection.

How is Actinomyces transmitted?

For example, actinomycosis commonly occurs after dental procedures, trauma, surgery, or aspiration ¹⁰. Actinomyces spp. is also presumed to be transmitted via direct contact between individuals as part of the normal oral flora ⁷.

How do I know if I have actinomycetes?

Actinomycetes form colonies that are leathery and many produce pigments and they have earthy smell. If you look under the microscope you will easily see the spores and you will easily recognize the corkscreww shape of streptomyces. In the litterature many culture media are descibed for isolation of actinomycetes.

Do actinomycetes produce antibiotics?

Actinomycetes, mainly Streptomyces species, produce tetracyclines, aminoglycosides (streptomycin and its relatives), macrolides (erythromycin and its relatives), chloramphenicol, ivermectin, rifamycins and most other clinically useful antibiotics that are not beta-lactams.

How do you isolate actinomycetes?

In isolating actinomycetes, soil samples are collected from the study area [16-20]. To kill most of the Gram negative bacteria, the soil is dried on the bench inside the laboratory for a period of one week [17]. The soil is further held in a water bath at 50°C to further destroy other vegetative microorganisms [13].