Background to the investigation

Streptococcus pneumoniae usually forms pairs (diplococci) or short chains.

Can you name the infectious diseases Streptococcus pneumoniae causes?

S. pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumonia and ear infections.

Escherichia coli is a typical rod-shaped bacterium, about 2 µm long.

Can you name the infectious diseases Escherichia coli causes?

Pathogenic strains of E. coli are a common cause of diarrhoeal disease, for example as a result of food poisoning, and of urinary infections.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) tends to form grape-like clusters with each bacterium being up to 1 μm in diameter.

Can you name the infectious diseases Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus causes?

MRSA is a particular threat in healthcare settings where it can cause sepsis and death if not treated quickly.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a relatively large (2–4 µm long), rod-shaped bacterium.

Can you name the infection disease Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes?

M. tuberculosis causes tuberculosis (TB).

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a typical rod-shaped bacterium (about 2 µm long).

Can you name the infectious diseases Klebsiella pneumoniae causes?

K. pneumoniae is a common cause of many
healthcare-associated infections including pneumonia, and bloodstream and wound infections.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae forms kidney-shaped diplococci (0.6 – 1 μm diameter).

Can you name the infection disease Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes?

N. gonorrhoeae causes the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea.