Alcaligenes

Alcaligenes xylosoxidans with fibrin fibers to the wall of a vein catheter (secondary electron micrograph )

Alcaligenes is a genus of gram-negative bacteria.

Properties

Alcaligenes bacteria are rod - to spherical ( coccus ), having dimensions of 0.5 to 0.6 times 0.5 to 2.6 microns. They most commonly occur on separately. They are flagellated and peritrichous have one to four flagella, which may also be re-formed, however. Resting stages are known.

Most species are obligately aerobic, some can be used in the absence of oxygen but also nitrite or nitrate as electron acceptor. They are usually chemoorganotroph, some species are chemolithotroph under hydrogen oxidation with oxygen as the electron acceptor finalem. Most strains do not require organic nitrogen, air, nitrogen, is not reduced. Casein, gelatin, cellulose, chitin, and agar are not hydrolyzed. Oxidases are present. The GC content of DNA is 58 to 70%. The growth optimum is at temperatures between 20 and 37 ° C.

They occur in water and soil, some species in the digestive tract of vertebrates. Occasionally they appear as opportunistic pathogens of diseases to humans.

Alcaligenes species were used for the industrial production of non-standard amino acids.

The following species belong to the genus (selection):

• Alcaligenes aquatilis Van Bustard et al. 2005
• Alcaligenes faecalis Castellani & Chalmers 1919 emend. Rehfuss and Urban 2005
• Alcaligenes latus Palleroni & Palleroni 1978
• Alcaligenes viscolactis
• Alcaligenes xylosoxidans ( Yabuuchi and Yano 1981) Kiredjian et al. 1986