Burkholderia pyrrocinia

Burkholderia pyrrocinia is a bacterial species belonging to the genus Burkholderia. It is a gram-negative, rod-shaped, and motile bacterium. B. pyrrocinia is known for its ability to produce pyrrolnitrin, a naturally occurring antibiotic and fungicide.

Taxonomy

Burkholderia pyrrocinia was first described in 1993 by Coenye et al. The species name "pyrrocinia" is derived from the Latin word pyrrocinium, meaning "fire-red", which refers to the red color of the colonies produced by this bacterium on certain agar media.

Characteristics

B. pyrrocinia is a aerobic, non-spore-forming, and motile bacterium. It is gram-negative and rod-shaped. The bacterium is capable of fixing nitrogen and can grow in a wide range of pH levels and temperatures.

Pathogenicity

B. pyrrocinia is generally considered a low-virulence organism. However, it has been associated with opportunistic infections in humans, particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions.

Pyrrolnitrin Production

B. pyrrocinia is known for its ability to produce pyrrolnitrin, a naturally occurring antibiotic and fungicide. Pyrrolnitrin has been shown to have potent activity against a wide range of fungi, including those that cause diseases in humans and plants.

Research

Research into B. pyrrocinia and its potential applications is ongoing. Its ability to produce pyrrolnitrin has led to interest in its potential use in agriculture as a natural pesticide and in medicine as a potential source of new antibiotics.

See Also

• Burkholderia
• Pyrrolnitrin
• Opportunistic infection