Streptomyces erythreus
- noun
- /strɛpˈtoʊmaɪsiːz ɛrɪˈθriːəs/
- Specialized
- Streptomyces erythreus is known for producing the antibiotic erythromycin.
Examples
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The fermentation process using Streptomyces erythreus yields large amounts of erythromycin for medical use.
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Researchers isolated Streptomyces erythreus from a soil sample to study its antibiotic properties.
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Streptomyces erythreus was first identified as the organism producing erythromycin in the 1950s.
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Researchers are studying Streptomyces erythreus for its antibiotic properties.
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Streptomyces erythreus was first identified as the organism producing erythromycin in the 1950s.
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Researchers isolated Streptomyces erythreus from a soil sample to study its antibiotic properties.
-
The fermentation process using Streptomyces erythreus yields large amounts of erythromycin for medical use.
Surface Forms
Morphology
streptomyces + erythreus
The first element 'Streptomyces' identifies a genus of antibiotic-producing bacteria, so a learner who knows that term would infer this is a particular species of that bacterium. However, the species epithet 'erythreus' is not a common English word (and its link to erythromycin or specific properties is not transparently derivable at B1), so the full specialised meaning (source of erythromycin) is not predictable from the parts alone.
Etymology
Streptomyces erythreus takes its name from two parts: Streptomyces meaning 'twisted fungus' because it grows in long thread-like strands, and erythreus meaning 'red' because it often makes a red pigment when found in soil. So the name helps you remember it is the soil bacterium that makes the antibiotic erythromycin.