Streptococcus cristatus

**Semantic type:** Bacterium

**Definition:** A species of facultatively anaerobic, Gram positive, cocci shaped bacteria in the phylum Firmicutes. This species is positive for alpha hemolysis and arginine deamination and negative for catalase, urease and esculin hydrolysis. It can ferment maltose, trehalose, galactose and lactose but not amygdalin, arabinose, inulin, mannitol, melibiose, raffinose, ribose, sorbitol or xylitol. S. cristatus is found in the normal human throat and oral cavity and may be involved in dental caries, gum disease and sepsis after oral trauma.

**Synonyms:** - STREPTOCOCCUS CRISTATUS