Serratia

marcescens Serratia marcescens is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobic bacterium found in the environment, including in soil, water, plants, and animals. It is an opportunistic human pathogen, and can cause hospital-acquired infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. It is also used in many biotechnological applications, ranging from production of enzymes and antibiotics to the bioremediation of pollutants. Its ability to produce a strong red pigment, called prodigiosin, makes it widely used for medical diagnoses, as well as for the study of antibiotic resistance and other topics in medical bacteriology. Serratia marcescens is a key organism in the study of bacterial pathogenesis, and its use in microbiology labs around the world is essential for the advancement of medical science.