''Pluralibacter gergoviae'' (formerly ''Enterobacter gergoviae'') is a

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 ...

, motile, facultatively-anaerobic,

rod-shaped Bacterial cellular morphologies are the shapes that are characteristic of various types of bacteria and often key to their identification. Their direct examination under a light microscope enables the classification of these bacteria (and archae ...

bacterium Bacteria (; : bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were among the ...

. ''P. gergoviae'' is of special interest to the cosmetics industry, as it displays resistance to

parabens Parabens are organic compounds that are commonly used as preservatives in Cosmetics, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. They are esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid (also known as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid). Chemistry Structure and structure Pa ...

, a common antimicrobial agent added to cosmetic products.

Background

''Enterobacter gergoviae'' was first proposed as a novel species in 1980. The species name is derived from the

Gergovie plateau The Gergovie plateau is a plateau of the Massif Central located 10 km to the south of Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne (region), Auvergne, France and is named after the nearby village of Gergovie. It is the site of the Battle of Gergo ...

, which is located near Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital; the type strain was isolated at this hospital during a

nosocomial A hospital-acquired infection, also known as a nosocomial infection (from the Greek , meaning "hospital"), is an infection that is acquired in a hospital or other healthcare facility. To emphasize both hospital and nonhospital settings, it is s ...

outbreak of ''P. gergoviae.'' In 2013, the species was reclassified into the novel genus, ''

Pluralibacter ''Pluralibacter'' is a genus of Gram negative bacteria from the family of Enterobacteriaceae. The genus consists of two species, ''P. gergoviae'' and ''P. pyrinus''. Both species were originally classified in the genus ''Enterobacter ''Entero ...

'', and is the

type species In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...

for the genus. ''Pluralibacter gergoviae'' has been isolated from maize, grapes, coffee beans, spring water,

fruit flies Fruit fly may refer to: Organisms * Drosophilidae, a family of small flies, including: ** ''Drosophila'', the genus of small fruit flies and vinegar flies ** ''Drosophila melanogaster'' or common fruit fly ** '' Drosophila suzukii'' or Asian fruit ...

, and

pink bollworm The pink bollworm (''Pectinophora gossypiella''; ) is an insect known for being a pest in cotton farming. The adult is a small, thin, gray moth with fringed wings. The larva is a dull white caterpillar with eight pairs of legs with conspicuous pin ...

s. It is an uncommon human pathogen, most commonly as an opportunistic nosocomial infection. One hospital in Spain reported the organism to represent 0.4% of clinical ''

Enterobacter ''Enterobacter'' is a genus of common Gram-negative, Facultative anaerobic organism, facultatively anaerobic, bacillus (shape), rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Cultures are found in soil, water, sewage, ...

'' isolates. Risk factors include prolonged hospital stays, "immunosuppression, the presence of a foreign device, prior use of anti-microbial agents in the patient involved, and extremes of age." In the

cosmetic industry The cosmetic industry describes the industry that manufactures and distributes cosmetic products. These include colour cosmetics, like foundation and mascara, skincare such as moisturisers and cleansers, haircare such as shampoos, conditioners a ...

, ''P. gergoviae'' has been implicated in recalls of eye cream, children's shampoo, skin cream, hand cleaning paste, and cleansing wipes. ''Pluralibacter gergoviae'' is resistant to

penicillin Penicillins (P, PCN or PEN) are a group of beta-lactam antibiotic, β-lactam antibiotics originally obtained from ''Penicillium'' Mold (fungus), moulds, principally ''Penicillium chrysogenum, P. chrysogenum'' and ''Penicillium rubens, P. ru ...

s (specifically

benzylpenicillin Benzylpenicillin, also known as penicillin G (PenG) or BENPEN, is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections. This includes pneumonia, strep throat, syphilis, necrotizing enterocolitis, diphtheria, gas gangrene, leptospiro ...

oxacillin Oxacillin (trade name Bactocill) is a narrow-spectrum second-generation beta-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class developed by Beecham. It was patented in 1960 and approved for medical use in 1962. Medical uses Oxacillin is a penicill ...

macrolides Macrolides are a class of mostly natural products with a large macrocycle, macrocyclic lactone ring to which one or more deoxy sugars, usually cladinose and desosamine, may be attached. Macrolides belong to the polyketide class of natural prod ...

(with the exception of

azithromycin Azithromycin, sold under the brand names Zithromax (in oral form) and Azasite (as an eye drop), is an antibiotic medication used for the treatment of several bacterial infections. This includes otitis media, middle ear infections, strep throa ...

lincosamides Lincosamides are a class of antibiotics, which include lincomycin, clindamycin, and pirlimycin. Structure Lincosamides consist of a pyrrolidine ring linked to a pyranose moiety (methylthio-lincosamide) via an amide bond. Hydrolysis of lincosam ...

(specifically

lincomycin Lincomycin is a lincosamide antibiotic that comes from the actinomycete ''Streptomyces lincolnensis''. A related compound, clindamycin, is derived from lincomycin by using thionyl chloride to replace the 7-hydroxy group with a chlorine atom with ...

and

clindamycin Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic medication used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections, including osteomyelitis (bone) or joint infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, strep throat, pneumonia, acute otitis media (mi ...

), streptogramins,

rifampicin Rifampicin, also known as rifampin, is an ansamycin antibiotic used to treat several types of bacterial infections, including tuberculosis (TB), ''Mycobacterium avium'' complex, leprosy, and Legionnaires' disease. It is almost always used tog ...

fusidic acid Fusidic acid, sold under the brand name Fucidin among others, is a steroid antibiotic that is often used topically in creams or ointments and eyedrops but may also be given systemically as tablets or injections. , the global problem of ad ...

, and

fosfomycin Fosfomycin, sold under the brand name Monurol among others, is an antibiotic primarily used to treat lower urinary tract infections. It is not indicated for kidney infections. Occasionally it is used for prostate infections. It is generally ...

. ''P. gergoviae'' is also resistant to

cefoxitin Cefoxitin is a second-generation cephamycin antibiotic developed by Merck & Co., Inc. from Cephamycin C in the year following its discovery, 1972. It was synthesized in order to create an antibiotic with a broader spectrum. It is often grouped ...

, likely due to

β-lactamase Beta-lactamases (β-lactamases) are enzymes () produced by bacteria that provide Multiple drug resistance, multi-resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins, cephalosporins, cephamycins, monobactams and carbapenems (ertapenem ...

production.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q12180554 Enterobacteriaceae Gram-negative bacteria