Chromobacterium violaceum is the only species in the Chromobacterium genus. Their distinguishing characteristic is the production of violacein, a purple pigment. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas, where they live in the natural flora of soil and water in small amounts.
These microorganisms very rarely infect humans or animals, but when they do it can cause serious illness that almost certainly leads to death. Virulent strains can withstand attack of phagocytic cells with elevated superoxide dismutase and catalase and the production of endotoxin. Symptoms of infection range from diarrhea to septicaemia, and also involve organ abscesses. There is not currently a vaccine for this illness.
Chromobacterium violaceum can be grown on common culture media, but isolating these organisms is done more easily on a media of sterile rice grains and reduced strength nutrient agar.
The isolation of these bacteria has been found useful. The bacteria can be used for the production of antibiotics such as Aerocyanidine, Aerocavin, 3,6-dihydroxyindoxazene, and Factor Y-T0678H. The violacein that the Chromobacterium violaceum produces also has antibiotic characteristics. It has also been hypothesized that as a result of the organisms' production of cyanide, they could be used to extract gold from soil.
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*Disclaimer - This report was written by a student participaring in a microbiology course at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. The accuracy of the contents of this report is not guaranteed and it is recommended that you seek additional sources of information to verify the contents.
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