Flavobacteriaceae is a family of rod-shaped gram negative bacteria. The family contains many environmental bacteria, with some species being potential pathogens.

History

The family of Flavobacteriaceae was first proposed by Reichenbach in 1989, it was approved by the IJSEM in 1992. The description of the family was emended several times in 1996 and 2002. In 2020, the family was split, with several genera moved to the newly established family of Weeksellaceae.

Biology

Species of the Flavobacteriaceae are predominantly rod-shaped and stain gram-negative. Many species in the Flavobacteriaceae are motile, with most non-motile species formerly placed in the family now being placed in the Weeksellaceae. Most species are aerobic, while some are microaerobic to anaerobic; for example Capnocytophaga and Coenonia. Several members of the family are considered halophilic or psychrotolerant. The predominant respiratory quinone is menaquinone-6. The majority of species of this family are known from a variety of environmental sources. Select species have occurred as pathogens in humans, with more genera, notably Elizabethkingia, being formerly placed in this family.

Genera

The family Flavobacteriaceae comprises the following genera:

Phylogeny

The currently accepted taxonomy is based on the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature and the phylogeny is based on whole-genome sequences.