Actinomyces (Noun)
Meaning
Soil-inhabiting saprophytes and disease-producing plant and animal parasites.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Actinomyces are soil-inhabiting saprophytes that break down organic matter and recycle nutrients in the ecosystem.
- Actinomyces can also be pathogenic, causing actinomycosis in humans and animals, often through contact with contaminated soil or water.
- The farmer was unaware that the actinomyces in the soil were decaying the organic matter and converting it into a nutrient-rich fertilizer.
- In laboratory tests, actinomyces were found to be capable of producing antibiotics that inhibited the growth of other microorganisms.
- Actinomyces have been implicated in the spoilage of stored grains and other plant materials, causing economic losses to farmers and traders.