Pho.to.bac.te’ri.um. Gr. neut. n. phôs, light; Gr. neut.
dim. n. bakterion, a small rod; N.L. neut. n. Photobacterium, light (-producing) bacterium.
The genus Photobacterium contains 37 species with
validated names and 3 species whose names have
not been validated. Cells are short bacilli Gram-stain
negative, and nonsporulated. Facultatively anaerobic. Require NaCl for growth (optimal concentration
1 – 3%). Several species present bioluminescence. Some
of them are piezophilic and others are psychrophilic.
Isolated from marine environment (seawater and
sediment), associated with aquatic animals (mutualism relationships), but some are pathogens for
poikilothermic and homeothermic animals.
DNA G + C content (mol%): 38.5–53.6.
Type species: Photobacterium phosphoreum Beijerinck 1889AL (basonym: Micrococcus phosphoreus Cohn
1878).
