<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> on Blood Agar (IMAGE)

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> on Blood Agar

Caption

These are Staphylococcus aureus colonies growing on blood agar. The "halos" around the colonies result from the bacteria lysing (popping open) red blood cells to obtain iron-containing hemoglobin. Eric Skaar and colleagues at Vanderbilt University have found that S. aureus prefers to bind to human hemoglobin.

Credit

Wikimedia Commons

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.