The Invisible ABCs

Exploring the World of Microbes...

Letter y

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Habitat:

 

Pseudomonas is found in a wide variety of habitats.  It is a common soil bacterium, and some species can cause diseases in humans and plants.

 

Importance:

 

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogenic bacterium that usually only infects individuals who have other medical problems.  It can infect burn wounds and cause pneumonia in people who have other medical problems with their lungs such as cystic fibrosis. 

 

Classification:

 

Pseudomonas is a thin-walled, rod-shaped bacterium.  It has a whip-like structure called a flagellum that it uses to propel itself.  It produces a blue-green pigment.