Proteobacteria

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Proteobacteria is a major group (phylum) of bacteria. They include a wide variety of pathogens, such as Escherichia, Salmonella, Vibrio, Helicobacter, Yersinia, Legionellales, and many other notable genera. Others are free-living (non-parasitic) and include many of the bacteria responsible for nitrogen fixation.

Classification[edit | edit source]

Proteobacteria are divided into six classes with the last two being non-validated: Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Epsilonproteobacteria, Zetaproteobacteria, Oligoflexia, and Acidithiobacillia.

Characteristics[edit | edit source]

Proteobacteria are Gram-negative bacteria with an outer membrane mainly composed of lipopolysaccharides. Many move about using flagella, but some are non-motile or rely on bacterial gliding. The latter include the myxobacteria, an order of Deltaproteobacteria that produce multicellular fruiting bodies. Also, a wide variety in the types of metabolism exists. Most members are facultatively or obligately anaerobic, chemoautotroph, and heterotrophic, but numerous exceptions exist.

History[edit | edit source]

The group is defined primarily in terms of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences. The Proteobacteria are divided into nine classes with the last two being non-validated: Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Epsilonproteobacteria, Zetaproteobacteria, Oligoflexia, Acidithiobacillia, and Thermodesulfovibrionia.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


External links[edit | edit source]


Proteobacteria Resources

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