Enterobacter
RANK: Genus
TAXONOMY: cellular organisms -> Bacteria -> Proteobacteria -> Gammaproteobacteria -> Enterobacteriales -> Enterobacteriaceae -> Enterobacter
OVERVIEW:
Enterobacter is a genus of common Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Several strains of these bacteria are pathogenic and cause opportunistic infections in immunocompromised (usually hospitalized) hosts and in those who are on mechanical ventilation. The urinary and respiratory tracts are the most common sites of infection. The genus Enterobacter is a member of the coliform group of bacteria. It does not belong to the fecal coliforms (or thermotolerant coliforms) group of bacteria, unlike Escherichia coli, because it is incapable of growth at 44.5 °C in the presence of bile salts. Some of them showed quorum sensing properties as reported before Two clinically important species from this genus are E. aerogenes and E. cloacae. A recent study has shown that the presence of Enterobacter cloacae B29 in the gut of a morbidly obese individual may have contributed to the patient’s obesity. Reduction of the bacterial load within the patient’s gut, from 35% E. cloacae B29 to non-detectable levels, was associated with a parallel reduction in endotoxin load in the patient and a concomitant, significant reduction in weight. Furthermore, the same bacterial strain, isolated from the patient, induced obesity and insulin resistance in germfree C57BL/6J mice that were being fed a high-fat diet. The study concludes that E. cloacae B29 may contribute to obesity in its human hosts through an endotoxin-induced, inflammation-mediated mechanism. Straight rods, 0.6–1.0 × 1.2–3.0 µm, conforming to the general definition of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Motile by peritrichous flagella (generally 4–6). Gram negative. Facultatively anaerobic. Growth occurs readily on ordinary media. Glucose is fermented with production of acid and gas (generally CO2:H2 = 2:1). Gas is not produced from glucose at 44.5°C. Most strains give a positive Voges–Proskauer reaction and a negative methyl red test. An alkaline reaction occurs in Simmons citrate and malonate broth. Nitrate is reduced to nitrite. H2S is not produced from thiosulfate. Tetrathionate is not reduced. Corn oil and tributyrin are not hydrolyzed. Gelatin, DNA, and Tween 80 are either not, or very slowly, hydrolyzed. l-Arabinose, d-cellobiose, d-fructose, d-galactose, d-galacturonate, gentiobiose, d-gluconate, d-glucosamine, d-glucose, d-glucuronate, 2-ketogluconate, l-malate, d-mannitol, d-mannose, d-trehalose, and d-xylose utilized by all or almost all strains, as sole source of carbon and energy. l-rhamnose utilized by all strains except Enterobacter asburiae. l-Arabitol, ethanolamine, itaconate, 3-phenylpropionate, l-sorbose, d-tartrate, tryptamine, and xylitol are not utilized. meso-Erythritol, gentisate, glutarate, and tricarballylate not utilized except by some strains of Enterobacter gergoviae. d-melezitose not utilized except by some strains of Enterobacter sakazakii. Optimum temperature for growth is 30°C. Most clinical strains grow at 37°C; some environmental strains give erratic biochemical reactions at 37°C. Widely distributed in nature; common in man and animals.The mol% G + C of the DNA is: 52–60 (Bd).Type species: Enterobacter cloacae
This genus contains microbial species that can reside in the human gastrointestinal tract. [PMC 4262072]
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Fecal distribution |
Gut associated |
Obesity |
Dysbiosis associated |
Microbial Abundance Data: Enterobacter
Percent of total population with standard deviation [PMID: 22698087]. Percentages > 1% highlighted. |
Buccal
Mucosa | Keratinized
Gingiva | Hard
Palate |
Throat | Tonsils | Saliva | Stool |
0.004 %
(0.028) |
0.001 %
(0.005) |
0.006 %
(0.038) |
0.003 %
(0.020) |
0.000 %
(0.001) |
0.002 %
(0.012) |
0.002 %
(0.013) |
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DESCENDANTS
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INTERACTIONS
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CLUSTERS WITH
METABOLOMICS
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