''Mergibacter'' 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 ...

, rod-shaped bacteria from the class of

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 ...

with one known species (''Mergibacter septicus''). The type species, ''M. septicus'', was originally isolated from

seabird Seabirds (also known as marine birds) are birds that are adaptation, adapted to life within the marine ecosystem, marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent ...

s in

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

, specifically the

common tern The common tern (''Sterna hirundo'') is a seabird in the family Laridae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution, its four subspecies breeding in Temperateness, temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America. It is stron ...

. It was originally known as Bisgaard Taxon 40 before further testing led to the creation of the novel genus and species. ''M. septicus'' was subsequently isolated from a seabird in Germany. The genus is named from the Latin word ''mergus'', which means "seabird". The lone species, ''M. septicus'', is so named because it was isolated from an outbreak of sepsis in seabirds. ''M. septicus'' grows on sheep's blood agar, but not MacConkey agar. It grows aerobically at 28 °C, 37 °C 42 °C. The bacteria are β-hemolytic, are positive for oxidase and catalase, and negative for urease and indole.

References

Pasteurellales Bacteria genera Monotypic bacteria genera {{Gammaproteobacteria-stub