Cytophaga

Cytophaga is a genus of Gram-negative, gliding, rod-shaped bacteria. This bacterium is commonly found in soil, rapidly digests crystalline cellulose^[1] C. hutchinsonii is able to use its gliding motility to move quickly over surfaces. Although the mechanism for this is not known, there is a belief that the flagellum is not used ^[1]

Species

The following are some species in Cytophaga:

• Cytophaga psychrophila — causes peduncle or cold water disease in Brook trout; predisposed by subnormal water temperature.
• Cytophaga hutchinsonii — aerobic cellulolytic soil bacterium that is known for its ability to rapidly glide over surfaces. The mechanism of cellulose digestion is not fully known; however, it is known that C. hutchinsonii has multiple cell-associated cellulolytic enzymes.^[2]

Species previously classified in Cytophaga:

• Flavobacterium columnare (previously: Cytophaga columnaris) — the cause of columnaris disease in salmonid fish, as associated with increased water temperature; it is characterized by white necrotic plaques overlaying skin ulcers; formerly called: Flexibacter columnaris.
• Flavobacterium johnsoniae (previously: Cytophaga johnsonae) — associated with false columnaris disease.
• Breznibacter xylanoticus (previously: Cytophaga xylanolytica) — a gliding bacteria that dominates xylan degradation in freshwater environments ^[3][4]

References

• Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary (3rd ed.). Elsevier. 2007.