Janthinobacterium lividum

Janthinobacterium lividum
Scientific classification
Domain:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
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Genus:
Species:
J. lividum
Binomial name
Janthinobacterium lividum
(Eisenberg 1891) De Ley et al. 1978 (Approved Lists 1980)
Type strain
ATCC 12473
CCUG 2344
CIP 103349
DSM 1522
HAMBI 1919
JCM 9043
LMG 2892
NCTC 9796
VKM B-1223
Synonyms
  • Bacillus lividus Eisenberg 1891
  • Bacillus violaceus berolinensis Kruse 1896
  • Bacterium lividus [sic] (Eisenberg 1891) Chester 1897
  • Bacillus berolinensis Chester 1901
  • Chromobacterium lividum (Eisenberg 1891) Bergey et al. 1923
  • Chromobacterium violaceum Ford 1927
  • Chromobacterium amethystinum Breed et al. 1957
  • Chromobacterium violaceum Leifson 1956
  • Pseudomonas mephitica Claydon and Hammer 1939[1]

Janthinobacterium lividum is an aerobic, Gram-negative, soil-dwelling bacterium that has a distinctive dark-violet (almost black) color, due to a compound called violacein, which is produced when glycerol is metabolized as a carbon source.[2] Violacein has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Its antifungal properties are of particular interest, since J. lividum is found on the skin of certain amphibians, including the red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus), where it prevents infection by the devastating chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis).[3]

  1. ^ Kämpfer, P.; Falsen, E.; Busse, H. J. (2008). "Reclassification of Pseudomonas mephitica Claydon and Hammer 1939 as a later heterotypic synonym of Janthinobacterium lividum (Eisenberg 1891) De Ley et al. 1978". Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 58 (Pt 1): 136–138. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.65450-0. PMID 18175698.
  2. ^ Pantanella, F; Berlutti, F; Passariello, C; Sarli, S; Morea, C; Schippa, S (2007). "Violacein and biofilm production in Janthinobacterium lividum". J Appl Microbiol. 102 (4): 992–9. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.03155.x. PMID 17381742.
  3. ^ "Small Things Considered: What You Didn't Know About Janthinobacterium". Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2012.