False-color scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Staphylococcus
aureus,
a common inhabitant of the human skin and nose and a potential pathogen. The
organism may bring about
pimples,
abscesses or boils, food poisoning, pneumonia, and many other serious infections.
This image shows the characteristic grape-like clusters of the spherical,
Gram- positive, non-motile bacteria. S. aureus exists in the nose, throats
and
on skin of
healthy humans & is widely distributed in air, dust, clothing and bedding.
It is also the commonest cause of pus-forming (pyogenic) infections in man,
such as boils, styes & infected accidental & surgical wounds. Staphylococcal
food poisoning results from ingesting food in which the bacteria have multiplied
and secreted an exotoxin. Variants of S. aureus have developed resistance
to many antibiotics. Magnification: x6, 700 at 6x7cm size. x3000 at 35mm
size.
Credit: Cnri / Photo Researchers, Inc.is of Staphylococcus aureus (10,000 X)
