Bisgaardia is a genus of
Gram-negative
Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that, unlike gram-positive bacteria, do not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining method of bacterial differentiation. Their defining characteristic is that their cell envelope consists ...
,
facultatively anaerobic
A facultative anaerobic organism is an organism that makes ATP by aerobic respiration if oxygen is present, but is capable of switching to fermentation if oxygen is absent.
Some examples of facultatively anaerobic bacteria are ''Staphylococcus' ...
bacteria in the family
Pasteurellaceae
The Pasteurellaceae comprise a large family of Gram-negative bacteria. Most members live as commensals on mucosal surfaces of birds and mammals, especially in the upper respiratory tract. Pasteurellaceae are typically rod-shaped, and are a notabl ...
. The genus was first described in 2011 following the isolation of ''
Bisgaardia hudsonensis'' from marine mammals, including
narwhals
The narwhal (''Monodon monoceros'') is a species of toothed whale native to the Arctic. It is the only member of the genus ''Monodon'' and one of two living representatives of the family Monodontidae. The narwhal is a stocky cetacean with a ...
(''Monodon monoceros'') and
beluga whales (''Delphinapterus leucas'').
[ A second species, '' Bisgaardia miroungae'', was later described from the oral cavity of a ]northern elephant seal
The northern elephant seal (''Mirounga angustirostris'') is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the southern elephant seal). It is a member of the family Phocidae (true seals). Elephant seals derive their name from their great s ...
(''Mirounga angustirostris'').[
]
Etymology
The genus name Bisgaardia honors Danish microbiologist Morten Bisgaard for his contributions to the taxonomy of the family Pasteurellaceae
The Pasteurellaceae comprise a large family of Gram-negative bacteria. Most members live as commensals on mucosal surfaces of birds and mammals, especially in the upper respiratory tract. Pasteurellaceae are typically rod-shaped, and are a notabl ...
.[
]
Characteristics
''Bisgaardia'' species are characterized by the following features:[
* Gram-negative
* Rod-shaped or coccoid cells
* Non-motile
* Facultatively anaerobic
* Oxidase-positive and catalase-positive
Colonies are typically small, non-haemolytic, and greyish on blood agar.
]
Habitat and isolation
''Bisgaardia'' species have been isolated from the oral cavity and respiratory tract of marine mammals, including narwhals, beluga whales, and northern elephant seals.[
]
Species
Recognized species within the genus ''Bisgaardia'' include:
* ''Bisgaardia hudsonensis'' (type species)[
* ''Bisgaardia miroungae''][
]
Significance
Members of the genus are mainly associated with marine mammals, and their identification contributes to the understanding of the microbial ecology of these hosts and host-specific adaptation within the family Pasteurellaceae
The Pasteurellaceae comprise a large family of Gram-negative bacteria. Most members live as commensals on mucosal surfaces of birds and mammals, especially in the upper respiratory tract. Pasteurellaceae are typically rod-shaped, and are a notabl ...
.[
]
See also
* Pasteurellaceae
The Pasteurellaceae comprise a large family of Gram-negative bacteria. Most members live as commensals on mucosal surfaces of birds and mammals, especially in the upper respiratory tract. Pasteurellaceae are typically rod-shaped, and are a notabl ...
* Marine mammal microbiome
References
External links
LPSN – Genus: Bisgaardia
BacDive – Bisgaardia species profiles
{{Taxonbar, from=Q26209942
Pasteurellales
Gram-negative bacteria
Bacteria genera
Taxa described in 2011