actinomycete

[ ak-tin-oh-mahy-seet, -mahy-seet, ak-tuh-noh- ]

noun

, Bacteriology.

1. any of several rod-shaped or filamentous, aerobic or anaerobic bacteria of the phylum Chlamydobacteriae, or in some classification schemes, the order Actinomycetales, certain species of which are pathogenic for humans and animals.

actinomycete

/ ˌæktɪnəʊmaɪˈsiːt /

noun

1. any bacterium of the group Actinomycetes, usually filamentous in form

actinomycete

/ ăk′tə-nō-mī′sēt′ /

1. Any of various bacteria belonging to the phylum Actinobacteria that grow as branching filaments resembling fungal hyphae and are found in soil. The filaments often grow in colonies but sometimes break off into rod-shaped structures. Many species of actinomycetes produce important antibiotics such as streptomycin, while others are pathogenic in humans and other animals, especially for skin diseases. One species lives symbiotically in the roots of alders and conducts nitrogen fixation. Because of their resemblance to fungi, actinomycetes were once classified as fungi.

Other Words From

• ac·tino·my·cetous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of actinomycete¹

First recorded in 1915–20; probably through construal of New Latin Actinomycetes (plural of actinomyces ) as an English plural noun; -mycete

Word History and Origins

Origin of actinomycete¹

C20: from actino- + -mycete

Example Sentences

Most of these compounds were isolated from cultivated representatives of only five bacterial groups: filamentous actinomycetes, Myxobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and members of the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus.

From Nature

The following pages detailed his experiments and his discovery of two strains of a gray-green actinomycete named Streptomyces griseus, Latin for gray.

From New York Times

This is the scent of good soil, created by the exhalations of actinomycetes, an abundant group of bacteria.

From Scientific American

Several different types of actinomycetes found in much-easier-to-reach terrestrial soils are already used to produce antibiotics such as streptomycin.

From Scientific American

Rich earth abounds with single cell organisms like bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, protozoa, and rotifers.

From Project Gutenberg