serratia
Definition
Noun 1. A genus of bacteria: Serratia is the scientific name for a genus of motile, rod-shaped bacteria. These bacteria are Gram-negative, meaning they do not retain the crystal violet stain used in a common laboratory test. They are also described as peritrichous, meaning they have flagella (whip-like structures for movement) distributed all over their cell surface.
Usage Notes
- The word is always capitalized because it is a proper noun referring to a specific genus in biological taxonomy.
- It is primarily used in scientific, medical, and microbiological contexts.
- When referring to a single species within this genus, the genus name is italicized and followed by the species name (e.g., ).
Examples
- Scientific Context:
- The laboratory identified the pathogen as Serratia from the water sample.
- Some species of Serratia are known to produce a distinctive red pigment.
- Medical Context:
- Hospital-acquired infections can sometimes be caused by Serratia.
- The doctor prescribed a specific antibiotic effective against Serratia bacteria.
Advanced Usage
- "Serratia marcescens": This is the most well-known species within the genus. It is often used in laboratory demonstrations and can be an opportunistic pathogen in healthcare settings.
- The classic experiment involved culturing Serratia marcescens to study bacterial growth.
Variants and Related Words
- Serratiaceae (n): The name of the bacterial family to which the genus belongs.
- Serratia infection (n): A medical condition caused by bacteria of this genus.
Synonyms
- Genus Serratia: The full taxonomic designation.
- There are no common-language synonyms, as this is a precise scientific term. In general contexts, it might be referred to as "a type of bacteria" or "Gram-negative rods."
Related Phrases and Terms
- Gram-negative bacterium: A broad category of bacteria that includes . This classification is important for determining antibiotic treatment.
- Opportunistic pathogen: A microorganism that typically does not cause disease in healthy individuals but can cause infection in people with weakened immune systems, a description that applies to some species.
- Nosocomial infection: An infection acquired in a hospital or healthcare setting, which is a common context for infections.
Noun
-
a genus of motile peritrichous bacteria that contain small Gram-negative rod
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ gần giống
Từ chứa "serratia"
Từ có nhắc đến "serratia"
