Eikenella

Abstract

Ei.ke.nel' la . M.L. dim. ending ‐ ella ; M.L. fem. n. Eikenella named after M. Eiken, who first named the type species of the genus. Proteobacteria / Betaproteobacteria / Neisseriales / Neisseriaceae / Eikenella Straight rods, 0.3–0.4 × 1.5–04.0 µm, unbranched, with rounded ends and a regular morphology. Short filaments are occasionally formed. Nonsporeforming. Gram negative. Nonmotile , possessing no flagella; however, a “twitching motility” may occur on agar surfaces. Facultatively anaerobic . Optimal growth temperature, 35–37°C. Colonies may appear to corrode the surface of the agar ; noncorroding strains may also occur. Nonhemolytic; a slight greening of blood media around colonies may occur. Oxidase positive (Kovacs method). Negative for catalase , urease , arginine dihydrolase , and indole . Lysine‐decarboxylase positive . Nitrates are reduced to nitrites. No acid is formed from glucose or other carbohydrates . Hemin is usually required for growth under aerobic conditions . Occur in the human mouth and intestine; can be opportunistic pathogens. The mol % G + C of the DNA is : 56–58. Type species : Eikenella corrodens (Eiken 1958) Jackson and Goodman 1972, 75 ( Bacteroides corrodens Eiken 1958, 415.)