''Laribacter hongkongensis'' is a species of bacteria. It is facultatively anaerobic, non-
sporulating
In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual reproduction, sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for biological dispersal, dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part 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 wa ...
, seagull- or spiral rod-shaped.
It is a potential human pathogen.
[Raja, M. K., S. S. Lulu, and A. R. Ghosh. "A novel pathogen for gastroenteritis: Laribacter hongkongensis." Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology 31.2 (2013): 204.] ''Laribacter hongkongensis'' has been isolated from human cases of diarrhea, but its role in causing diarrhea is unproven, even though it has been hypothesized. Additional studies are needed to better define its role as a possible enteric pathogen. These should include: case control studies designed to differentiate infection from colonization-transient passage, fulfilling Koch's postulates and Bradford-Hill's criteria on association vs. causation, possible virulence factors, animal models, host factors, antibody responses based on serodiagnostic testing, and human volunteer studies. The lessons learned from trying to establish the etiological role of the bacteria genera ''Aeromonas'', ''Plesiomonas,'' and ''Edwardsiella'' in human diarrhea seem especially applicable for ''Laribacter''. All four genera are isolated from extraintestinal infections, are apparently found in the aquatic environment, and epidemiological associations include eating fish and foreign travel. Even after over 50 years’ experience with the former three genera their etiological role in an individual case of human diarrhea is difficult to determine without extensive studies. For all four of these genera the critical issue will be differentiating infection from colonization or transient passage in the intestine.
References
Further reading
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External links
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LPSNType strain of ''Laribacter hongkongensis'' at Bac''Dive'' - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase
Bacteria described in 2002
Neisseriales
{{Betaproteobacteria-stub