Serotype vs. Species- Definitions, Differences, Similarities, and Usage in Microbiology

Serotypes are groups of microorganisms in a single species that have distinctive surface structures. Serotypes are distinguished by surface antigens, which allows their classification into subspecies levels (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2020). An example is Salmonella bacteria, which looks the same under a microscope but can be classified into different serotypes depending on the surface structures. These two structures are the outermost surface covering of bacteria known as the O-antigen and H-antigen. The H-antigen is a threadlike structure in the flagella (CDC, 2020). The O antigens are distinguished due to their chemical makeups, while the H-antigens are separated by the flagellar protein content (CDC, 2020). Our assignment writing help is at affordable prices to students of all academic levels and disciplines.

On the other hand, species are a group of organisms capable of exchanging and reproducing to produce fertile offspring (Mader & Windelspecht, 2018). It is a taxonomical unit and involves binomial naming. An example is Homo sapiens. The similarity between these two terms is that they describe organisms in the same taxonomic classification that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring. Serotypes belong to one species. The difference is that different serotypes have distinct antigen features. Serotypes can be considered as sub-species.

Serotypes are used in disease outbreaks. They can be used to track sources of outbreaks, assess the scope of the problem, plan and evaluate interventions (CDC, 2020). Serotypes are mainly used in public health programs. Species are mainly used in biology to classify organisms with common characteristics and produce viable offspring. Conversely, the term species is used in the naming of organisms. It allows scientists to have a universal understanding of the standard terms and names that can identify all organisms on the planet.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Serotypes and the importance of serotyping Salmonella | Salmonella atlas | Reports and publications | Salmonella | CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/reportspubs/salmonella-atlas/serotyping-importance.html