Psychrobacter faecalis is an aerobic, Gram-negative, oxidase-positive, catalase-positive, non-spore forming bacillus initially isolated from a bioaerosol originating from pigeon faeces.[1]
P. faecalis is an aerobic bacterium formed of Gram negative rods, measuring 0.8-1.2 x 1.0-2.0 μm, which grow in circular, opaque colonies on nutrient agar. It is oxidase-positive, catalase-positive and indole-negative. This organism shows psychrotrophic tendencies and replicates in temperatures ranging from 4 °C to 36 °C, and possesses chemoheterotrophic metabolism.
P. faecalis was discovered in 2002, while performing a study analysing the exposure of workers to bioaerosols in a room contaminated with pigeon faeces. An isolate was found that grew on MacConkey agar, but could not be clearly identified as a member of the Enterobacteriaceae. 16S rRNA sequencing identified significant sequence similarities (93.9 - 96.9%) between this new isolate and other members of the Psychrobacter genus, but below 97%, indicating the presence of a novel species.
Deschaght P, Jenssens M, Vaneechoutte M, Wauters G (2012) Psychrobacter isolates of human origin, other than Psychrobacter phenylpyruvicus, are predominantly Psychrobacter faecalis and Psychrobacter pulmonis, with embedded description of P. faecalis. International Journal of Systemic and Evolutionary Microbiology 62: 671-674
Gori K, Ryssel M, Arneborg N, Jespersen L (2012) Isolation and identification of the microbiota of Danish farmhouse and industrially produced surface-ripened cheeses. Microbial Ecology 65: 602-615
Reina J C, Manuel R, Salto R, Camara M, Llamas I (2021) AhaP, A quorum quenching acylase from Psychrobacter sp. M9-54-1 that attenuates Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio coralliilyticus virulence. Marine Drugs. 19
Thanh P N, Hong V D, Ngoc D C, The V B (2021) Cellulose degrading ability of bacterial strains isolated from gut of termites in Vinhlong province- Vietnam. Chemical Engineering Transactions. Volume 88