Staphylococcus

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

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 staining classification?Gram-positive bacteria
2. What is the metabolic classification?Facultative anaerobic, enabling growth in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions
3. What do Staphylococcus germs look like under a microscope?They are round bacteria that stick together in clusters that look like little bunches of grapes.
4. Why are some Staphylococcus germs helpful and some harmful?Most live harmlessly on our skin and help keep our body healthy, but some species, like Staphylococcus aureus, can cause infections when they get inside the body.

Commensal: A microorganism that lives on or in a host without causing harm, often benefiting from the host.