Propionimicrobium

Propionimicrobium is a genus of bacteria in the family Propionibacteriaceae. The genus was first described by Collins and East in 1988. The bacteria are anaerobic, gram-positive, and rod-shaped. They are known to produce propionic acid as a metabolic byproduct, hence the name Propionimicrobium.

Taxonomy

The genus Propionimicrobium belongs to the family Propionibacteriaceae, order Propionibacteriales, class Actinobacteria, phylum Actinobacteria, and domain Bacteria.

Characteristics

Propionimicrobium are anaerobic, meaning they can survive in environments without oxygen. They are gram-positive, indicating that they have a thick peptidoglycan layer in their cell walls which retains the violet crystal violet stain used in the Gram stain test. The bacteria are rod-shaped, or bacilli.

Metabolism

Propionimicrobium are known to produce propionic acid as a metabolic byproduct. This is a common characteristic of the family Propionibacteriaceae. Propionic acid is a short-chain fatty acid that has numerous applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Clinical significance

While Propionimicrobium are generally considered non-pathogenic, they have been isolated from various human clinical specimens, suggesting a potential role in human disease. Further research is needed to fully understand the clinical significance of this genus.

See also

• Propionibacteriaceae
• Propionibacteriales
• Actinobacteria
• Bacteria