Actinomyces is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria. Some species are anaerobic, while others are facultatively anaerobic . Actinomyces species do not form spores, and, while individual bacterium are rod-shaped, morphologically Actinomyces colonies form fungus-like branched networks of hyphae.

Many Actinomyces spp. are opportunistic pathogens of humans and other mammals, particularly in the oral cavity. In rare cases, these bacteria can cause actinomycosis, a disease characterized by the formation of abscesses in the mouth, lungs, or the gastrointestinal tract.

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Actinobacteria

Actinomyces