Staphylococcus succinus

Staphylococcus succinus is a Gram-positive coccoid bacterium belonging to the genus Staphylococcus. This species was first described in 1998 and was isolated from 25- to 35-million-year-old Dominican amber. Cells are Gram-positive, spherical (diameter 0.6–1.9 μm) and form characteristic rosettes with one central cell surrounded by two to five peripheral cells. Colonies after 2 days in tryptose soy agar at 25 °C are raised with an elevated centre (umbonate), glossy, opaque white, rough, and crenated, and measure 4–6 mm. Growth occurs between 25 and 40 °C, but not at 42 °C. Optimal growth occurs at 28 °C. The species grows more slowly at 40 °C. It does not grow in the anaerobic portion of thioglycolate shake medium. The G+C content is 35 mol%. The species is PGR-positive, indoxyl-phosphate positive, Voges-Proskauer negative, phosphatase positive but is unable to reduce nitrate to nitrite. It is resistant to novobiocin. Acid and gas are produced from lactose, mannose and trehalose.