Pseudomonas pertucinogena is a Gram-negative

Gram-negative

Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that do not retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol. In a Gram stain test, a counterstain is added after the crystal violet, coloring all Gram-negative bacteria with a red or pink color...

, rod-shaped, motile bacterium. It derives its name from the fact that it produces pertucin, a bacteriocin

Bacteriocin

Bacteriocins are proteinaceous toxins produced by bacteria to inhibit the growth of similar or closely related bacterial strain. They are typically considered to be narrow spectrum antibiotics, though this has been debated...

 active against phase I organisms of Bordetella pertussis

Bordetella pertussis

Bordetella pertussis is a Gram-negative, aerobic coccobacillus of the genus Bordetella, and the causative agent of pertussis or whooping cough. Unlike B. bronchiseptica, B. pertussis is non-motile. Its virulence factors include pertussis toxin, filamentous hæmagglutinin, pertactin, fimbria, and...

. Based on 16S rRNA analysis, P. pertucinogena has been placed in the P. pertucinogena group, named after this species.

The Pseudomonas pertucinogena group

P. pertucinogena lends its name to a subgroup within the genus Pseudomonas

Pseudomonas

Pseudomonas is a genus of gammaproteobacteria, belonging to the family Pseudomonadaceae containing 191 validly described species.Recently, 16S rRNA sequence analysis has redefined the taxonomy of many bacterial species. As a result, the genus Pseudomonas includes strains formerly classified in the...

. The only other member of the P. pertucinogena subgroup is Pseudomonas denitrificans

Pseudomonas denitrificans

Pseudomonas denitrificans is a Gram-negative facultative anaerobic bacterium that performs denitrification. It was first isolated from garden soil in Vienna, Austria. It synthesizes vitamin B12. Based on 16S rRNA analysis, P. denitrificans has been placed in the P. pertucinogena group....

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