Serratia is a
genus of
Gram-negative,
facultatively anaerobic,
rod-shaped bacteria of the
Enterobacteriaceae family. The most common species in the genus,
S. marcescens, is normally the only
pathogen and usually causes
nosocomial infections. However, rare strains of
S. plymuthica,
S. liquefaciens,
S. rubidaea, and
S. odoriferae have caused diseases through infection. Members of this genus produce characteristic red
pigment,
prodigiosin, and can be distinguished from other members of the Enterobacteriaceae family by their unique production of three enzymes:
DNase,
lipase, and
gelatinase.