What Is the Habitat of Pseudomonas?

More on Pseudomonas

• The Pseudomonas genus of bacteria is Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic and polar-flagella. Gram-negative bacteria do not retain the violet dye that scientists use to identify microscopic organisms in a process called Gram-staining. These bacteria are almost always pathogenic, meaning they cause diseases in other organisms. The bacteria are also aerobic, meaning they require oxygen to survive. Polar-flagella means that the bacteria have one or more flagella (the structure that bacteria use for mobility) on each end of the rod. There are seven species groups under Pseudomonas: P. aeruginosa, P. chlororaphis, P. fluorescens, P. pertucinogena, P. putida, P. stutzeri and P. syringae. There are also several ungrouped species. The name Pseudomonas means "false unit" in Latin.

Possible Habitats

• Pseudomonas bacteria can survive in almost any location where there is sufficient oxygen and a food source. Areas where Pseudomonas thrive include soil, water, on the surface of animal skin, on plants and on many man-made structures. The bacteria in the genus all have strong, durable cell walls that keep out elements that are harmful to the bacteria, such as penicillin, and prevent white blood cells from destroying them. This is why many Pseudomonas species are so efficient at causing disease.

Other Habitat Information

• Because Pseudomonas are aerobic bacteria, they cannot survive in areas with little or no oxygen. Most species can also not withstand very high heat, though they are fairly resistant to cold temperatures. Pseudomonas bacteria even live as airborne bacteria and actually play an important role in cloud formation. Pseudomonas bacteria will form a colony on a plant, then get swept up by a gust of wind high into the atmosphere. Once there, water vapor condenses around the bacteria and forms droplets, which in turn form clouds.

Disease Caused by Pseudomonas

• Pseudomonas bacteria are classified as opportunistic pathogens, which means that they will live on, but not cause disease in a host until the host's immune system becomes weak and the opportunity for infection arises. Once the bacteria enters the body, it quickly grows and infects the host. Pseudomonas infections, especially those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, may lead into inflammation of organs and cell (then tissue) death. Also, many strains of the bacteria are resistant to antibiotics because they form biofilm, which prevents the antibiotic from entering the bacteria's cells.