''Cytophaga'' is a genus of

Gram-negative Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining method of bacterial differentiation. They are characterized by their cell envelopes, which are composed of a thin peptidoglycan cell wall ...

gliding Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word ''soaring'' is ...

, rod-shaped bacteria. This bacterium is commonly found in soil, rapidly digests crystalline cellulose ''C. hutchinsonii'' is able to use its gliding motility to move quickly over surfaces. Although the mechanism for this is not known, there is a belief that the flagellum is not used

Species

The following are some

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate ...

in ''Cytophaga'': * '' Cytophaga psychrophila'' — causes peduncle or cold water disease in

Brook trout The brook trout (''Salvelinus fontinalis'') is a species of freshwater fish in the char genus ''Salvelinus'' of the salmon family Salmonidae. It is native to Eastern North America in the United States and Canada, but has been introduced elsew ...

; predisposed by subnormal water temperature. * '' Cytophaga hutchinsonii'' — aerobic cellulolytic soil bacterium that is known for its ability to rapidly glide over surfaces. The mechanism of cellulose digestion is not fully known; however, it is known that ''C. hutchinsonii'' has multiple cell-associated cellulolytic enzymes.

Species Previously Classified in ''Cytophaga:''

* ''Flavobacterium columnare'' (previously: '' Cytophaga columnaris)'' — the cause of

columnaris Columnaris (also referred to as cottonmouth) is a symptom of disease in fish which results from an infection caused by the Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium ''Flavobacterium columnare''. It was previously known as ''Bacillus columna ...

disease in

salmon Salmon () is the common name for several commercially important species of euryhaline ray-finned fish from the family Salmonidae, which are native to tributaries of the North Atlantic (genus ''Salmo'') and North Pacific (genus '' Oncorhync ...

id fish, as associated with increased water temperature; it is characterized by white necrotic plaques overlaying skin ulcers; formerly called: '' Flexibacter columnaris''. * ''Flavobacterium johnsoniae'' (previously: '' Cytophaga johnsonae)'' — associated with false columnaris disease. * '' Breznibacter xylanoticus'' (previously: ''Cytophaga xylanolytica'') — a gliding bacteria that dominates xylan degradation in freshwater environments

References

External links

''Cytophaga'' at Bac''Dive'' - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3009545 Gram-negative bacteria Medically important anaerobes Gut flora bacteria Bacteria genera Cytophagia