Sphingobacteriaceae

The Sphingobacteriaceae are a family of bacteria. The type genus is Sphingobacterium. They belong to the Department of Bacteroidetes.

Appearance

The Gram test is negative. It is rod-shaped bacteria, the size is, for example of Pedobacter Sphingobacterium and in the range of 0.3 - 0.6 X 0.5 to 0.6 microns. Flagella are not present, but a sliding movement can take place in several species. The colonies are yellowish usually after a few days. The catalase and oxidase test is positive. Also, the phosphatase test is positive. They are aerobic and chemo- organotroph.

An important feature is the formation of sphingolipids, namely ceramides, and sphingophospholipids. The sphingolipids they differ greatly from most other bacteria, because most bacteria do not Sphingophospholipids. Species containing sphingolipids include, for example to the family Sphingomonadaceae, provided to the Proteobacteria, and some species of Bacteroides, which count as well as the Sphingobacteria to the Bacteroidetes. The presence of these lipids also serves as a key differentiator to the Flavobacteriaceae. Another important feature to distinguish it from Flavobacteria is the menaquinone 7

Occurrence

They were in, inter alia, in the soil, compost and fresh water found. Some are free-living, others are saprophytic. Different types worldwide and used in various climatic conditions, for example, were Types of Pedobacter found in the tropics and cold regions such as the Himalayas, Alps and Iceland.

System

Sphingobacterium spiritivorum and Sphingobacterium multivorum were initially conducted in the genus Flavobacterium. In 1983 they were asked by Eiko Yabuuchi to the newly introduced genus Sphingobacterium, including due to the containing sphingolipids. The Sphingobacteriaceae family was from Steyn et. al. Introduced in 1998. The following genera are included:

• Mucilaginibacter Pankratov et al. 2007
• Nubsella Asker, et al. 2008
• Olivibacter Ntougias et al. 2007
• Parapedobacter Kim et al. 2007
• Pedobacter Steyn et al. 1998
• Pseudosphingobacterium Vaz - Moreira et al. 2007
• Solitalea Weon et al. 2009
• Sphingobacterium Yabuuchi et al. 1983