What are the characteristics of gram-positive bacteria?

Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer and cytoplasmic lipid membrane which protects the bacteria from taking damage. They have a low lipid concentration, and increased teichoic acids. For example, the walls of Streptococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus contain teichoic acids. Gram-positive bacteria also lack an outer membrane. They are able to move with the assistance of locomotion structures like flagella and cilia. Gram-positive bacteria appear as blue or purple under the microscope. These bacteria also exist in different shapes which include: bacilli (rod shape), cocci (spherical or round shape), branching filaments (threadlike shape). Gram-positive cocci include Staphylococcus, which grows in clusters and Streptococcus which grows in chains. Clostridia and Bacilli are types of spore-forming bacilli. Examples of branching filament rods include actinomyces and Nocardia.