ABSTRACT
This chapter provides state-of-the-art overviews on foodborne diseases caused by Streptococcus in relation to their etiology, biology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Until 1985, the genus Streptococcus was clubbed with Enterococcus and Lactococcus, which was split into three genera after the publication of Bergy's manual. This chapter focuses on the human pathogenic streptococci and covers classification and morphology, life cycle and epidemiology, infections caused by various streptococcal strains, and vaccine development and the role of genomic and proteomic analyses in guiding the development of safe, efficacious, and broadly protective vaccines. Classified under the kingdom Eubacteria, phylum Firmicutes, class Bacilli, order Lactobacillales, family Streptococcaceae, the genus Streptococcus includes a composite group of gram-positive cocci that are separated into nearly 40 species. Streptococcus bacteria are capable of causing acute infections and have been also found to live without harming the host system, especially on the mucous membranes of normal individuals.
