Actinomyces israelii

**Semantic type:** Bacterium

**Definition:** A species of anaerobic, Gram positive, rod shaped bacteria assigned to the phylum Actinobacteria. This bacteria hydrolyzes esculin, produces acid from xylose and is urease and catalase negative. A. israelii is found in the flora of the human oral and nasopharyngeal tract and in animals and is the most frequent cause of actinomycosis in humans.

**Synonyms:** - ACTINOMYCES ISRAELII