| Description | Streptococcus sp. group B (commonly known as Group B Streptococcus or GBS) is a Gram-positive, cocci-shaped bacterium that thrives in moderate temperature environments, typically classified as a mesophile. As a chemoheterotroph, GBS relies on organic compounds for energy and carbon, making it a heterotrophic organism. It is primarily an facultative anaerobe, meaning it can survive in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, although it grows optimally in the presence of oxygen. This microbe is a normal inhabitant of the human gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, commonly found in the rectum and vagina of healthy individuals. Despite its presence in these sites, GBS can become pathogenic, particularly in newborns, pregnant women, elderly individuals, and those with compromised immune systems. Your average adult can carry the bacterium without experiencing any symptoms, but in certain cases, it can lead to serious infections such as pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis in infants. Group B Streptococcus is noteworthy for its ability to evade the host's immune system through the production of a capsule, which helps protect it from phagocytosis. Additionally, the bacterium's polysaccharide capsule is a major virulence factor and is the target of current vaccine development efforts. Pregnant women are routinely screened for GBS during the late stages of pregnancy due to the risk of transmission to the newborn during delivery; prophylactic antibiotics are often administered if the bacterium is detected. This attention highlights the dual nature of GBS as both a commensal and a potentially harmful pathogen. |
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