enterobacteriaceae

Enterobacteriaceae
    n 1: a large family of Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria of the
         order Eubacteriales [syn: {Enterobacteriaceae}, {family
         Enterobacteriaceae}]
    

Enterobacteriaceae \En`ter*o*bac`te*ri*a"ce*ae\
   ([e^]n`t[~e]r*[-o]*b[a^]k`t[=e]r*[=e]*[=a]"s[=e]*[=e]), prop.
   n. (Microbiol.)
   a natural family of rod-shaped gram-negative bacteria, most
   of which occur normally or pathogenically in intestines of
   humans and other animals, and some of which grow in plants.
   The type genus is {Escherichia}. They are aerobic and
   facultatively anaerobic, and may be motile or non-motile.
   Most are easily cultured on artificial growth media. Both
   pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains exist.
   [PJC]