Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, is a gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic diplococcus aerotolerant anaerobe and a member of the genus Streptococcus.^[1] An important human pathogen, S. pneumoniae has been known as a major cause of pneumonia in the late 19th century and is the subject of many humoral immunity studies.

Streptococcus pneumoniae
SEM micrograph of S. pneumoniae.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Firmicutes
Class:	Diplococci
Order:	Lactobacillales
Family:	Streptococcaceae
Genus:	Streptococcus
Species:	S. pneumoniae
Binomial name
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Klein 1884) Chester 1901