Flavobacteriaceae

The Flavobacteriaceae are a family of bacteria. The type genus is Flavobacterium.

Features

The Gram test is negative. The cells are rod-shaped. Some species can form filamentous cells. They are short or moderately elongate. Some form helical cells. There are immovable or movable sliding styles available. Some species are obligately aerobic, anaerobic and obligately are available. Colonies often have a yellow color, hence the name ( Latin flavus = yellow). Some representatives are cold- loving ( psychrophilic ), examples are Flavobacterium psychrophilum, cause of the Columnariskrankheit in fish, as well as types of Polaribacter and Psychroflex.

Pathogenicity

In the family of Flavobacteriaceae few pathogenic (disease- causing) types are available. Most species are free in the environment. The pathogenic include, for example, Flavobacterium meningosepticum, Bergeyella zoohelcum, Elizabethkingia meningoseptica, Myroides odoratus and Myroides odartimismus and Chryseobacterium indolgens. Others are also pathogenic for some species. Flavobacterium meningosepticum can meningitis in young children and infants cause.

Occurrence

Types of Flavobacteriaceae occur in soil and fresh water, brackish water or seawater. Some were found in food and milk. Some, as yet unidentified members of the family inhabit the digestive tract of insects, others live inside cells ( intracellular) of amoebae. Many species of the genus Capnocytophaga come in the mouth of people, some even in the mouth of dogs and cats.

System

The following is a selection of genera:

• Actibacter Kim et al. 2008
• Bergeyella Vandamme et al. 1994
• Capnocytophaga Leadbetter et al. 1982 Capnocytophaga canimorsus Brenner et al. 1990