Alloiococcus

Alloiococcus is a relatively "new" bacterial genus. Not really new of course, but when Alloiococcus otitis, an organism from human middle ear fluid was discovered in 1992, it was found to be distinct from all other bacteria then known. If I tell you that Alloiococcus are Gram-positive, aerobic cells arranged in clusters, you may be able to guess that members of this genus had probably previously been mis-identified as Staphylococci.

Alloiococcus otitis is quite commonly isolated from middle ear infections (otitis media), both in humans and animals, and has received some attention for this reason. Actually, members of the genus are quite widespread. The strain shown in the video is an environmental isolate which, as far as we know, has never been near anyone's ear!

Alloiococcus are non-motile organisms - the motion seen in this video is due to convection currents on the microscope slide.

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