Staphylococcus aureus

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/staphylococcus-aureus

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the gram stain?Positive
2. What is the morphology?Coccus (spherical)
3. Why can Staphylococcus aureus make people sick?When it gets past the skin or goes into a wound, it can cause infections like skin sores, pneumonia, or even serious infections inside the body.
4. How does Staphylococcus aureus stay on our skin without hurting us?It lives quietly on the skin and nose, not triggering a strong immune response, and it can keep more harmful germs from taking over.

Microbiome: The community of microorganisms living in a particular environment, such as on the human body.
Virulence Factors: Molecules produced by pathogens that contribute to their ability to cause disease.
Antibiotic Resistance: The ability of bacteria to survive exposure to antibiotics that would normally kill them.
Pathogen: A microorganism that can cause disease.