Moraxella lacunata facts for kids

Moraxella lacunata is a tiny living thing called a bacterium. It looks like a small, rod-shaped stick and usually appears in pairs. Scientists call it "Gram-negative" because of how it looks under a microscope. This type of bacteria cannot move on its own. Moraxella lacunata is known for causing a common eye infection called conjunctivitis, which makes your eyes red and watery.

Discovering Moraxella lacunata

This special bacterium was first found by two different scientists around the same time. Victor Morax described it in 1896, and Theodor Axenfeld described it in 1897. Because both of them discovered it, the bacteria is sometimes called "Morax-Axenfeld diplobacilli." The eye infection it causes can also be known as Morax-Axenfeld conjunctivitis.

How Moraxella lacunata Changes

Scientists have studied M. lacunata in the lab and found that it can change its shape and how it looks. For example, if left alone for about five days, these bacteria can become shorter. They might also change how they react to a special stain called a Gram stain. These changes can even stick around when the bacteria are moved to new growing conditions.

What Eye Infection Does Moraxella lacunata Cause?

Moraxella lacunata mainly causes an eye infection in adults, but kids can get it too. This infection is usually mild and lasts a while. It often affects the outer corners of the eyes and eyelids.

Here are some signs of the infection:

• The skin at the corners of your eyelids, especially the outer corner, might look red and a bit wet or softened.
• The edges of your eyelids can become red.
• Sometimes, the clear front part of your eye, called the cornea, can get a small, shallow infection.
• Your eyes might have a grayish-yellow discharge that sticks to your eyelashes and collects at the corners of your eyes.