The spelling of the bacterial species name, Corynebacterium hodgkini, can be tricky, but the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) can help. The first syllable is pronounced "kor-uh-nee," with a hard "k" sound and a schwa vowel. The "bac" in "bacterium" is pronounced like "back." The final syllable of "hodgkini" is pronounced with a long "ee" sound as in "ski." So, the full pronunciation is "kor-uh-nee-BAK-tuh-ree-um HODG-kin-eye."
Corynebacterium hodgkini is a species of bacteria belonging to the genus Corynebacterium. It is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium that is primarily found in the upper respiratory tract, particularly in the tonsils and pharynx of humans.
This bacterium is named after Thomas Hodgkin, a British physician who played a significant role in describing Hodgkin's disease (now known as Hodgkin's lymphoma) in the 19th century. Corynebacterium hodgkini has been associated with this disease, although its exact role, if any, in the development or progression of Hodgkin's lymphoma remains unclear.
Corynebacterium hodgkini is a relatively rare bacterium and has unique growth characteristics and colony morphology that distinguish it from other members of the Corynebacterium genus. In the laboratory, it typically grows on specialized media supplemented with specific nutrients.
In terms of clinical significance, Corynebacterium hodgkini is considered an opportunistic pathogen, meaning that it generally does not cause disease in healthy individuals but can cause infections in immunocompromised patients or those with underlying medical conditions. In such cases, it has been implicated in various infections, including respiratory tract infections, invasive disease, and bloodstream infections.
Further research is needed to fully understand the pathogenic potential and clinical implications of Corynebacterium hodgkini, as well as its association, if any, with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
A diphtheroid bacillus found in a case of Hodgkin's disease.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The etymology of the word "Corynebacterium hodgkini" can be broken down as follows:
1. Corynebacterium: The term "Corynebacterium" originates from the Greek words "koryne" meaning "club" and "bakterion" meaning "small staff". It refers to the rod-like shape of bacteria in the genus Corynebacterium. The name was coined by the German physician Friedrich Loeffler in 1886.
2. Hodgkini: The term "Hodgkini" is derived from the name of Dorothy Reed Mendenhall Hodgkin (1896-1946) who was an American pathologist. She made significant contributions to the understanding of lymphomas, particularly Hodgkin's lymphoma.