| Corynebacteria | <bacteria> Genus of gram-positive nonmotile rod like bacteria, often with a club shaped appearance. most are facultative anaerobes with some similarities to mycobacteria and nocardiae. Corynebacteria diphtheriae is the causative agent of diphtheria and produces a potent exotoxin diphtheria toxin. Coryneform bacteria, common name for nondiphtheria corynebacterium, usually a nonpathogenic component of skin and oropharyngeal flora in humans and animals can cause opportunistic infections in the immunocompromised host. (05 Mar 2000) |
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