A genus of motile, aerobic, facultatively anaerobic, coccoid bacteria (family Streptococcaceae) which occur singly or in pairs, with flattened adjacent sides.
They are Gram-indeterminate but have a cell wall like that of Gram-positive bacteria, and are parasitic on mammals. The type species is Gemella haemolysans, which is found in bronchial secretions and in mucus from the respiratory tract.
Origin: L. Dim. Of geminus, twin
(05 Mar 2000)