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Pseudomonas
(soo″do-mo´nәs)
a genus of gram-negative, strictly aerobic, motile, straight or curved rod-shaped bacteria. Most species are saprophytic,
but some are pathogenic for plants and animals. Pseudomonas aerugino´sa (which produces the pigments pyocyanin and fluorescein that give a blue color to the pus discharged from some infections)
is a major agent of severe or fatal nosocomial infections in debilitated patients. Some species are opportunistic pathogens
in humans; these include Pseudomonas alcali´genes, Pseudomonas cepa´cia, Pseudomonas fluores´cens, Pseudomonas mal´lei (which also causes glanders in horses), Pseudomonas maltophi´lia, Pseudomonas pseudomal´lei, and Pseudomonas stut´zeri.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
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