Name: Chromobacterium violaceum Bergonzini 1880 (Approved Lists 1980)

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov.

Etymology: vi.o.la’ce.um. L. neut. adj. violaceum, violet colored

Pronunciation (Latin), gender: k^hro-mo-bak-TE-ri-um wi-o-LA-ke-um, neuter

Type strain: ATCC 12472; CCUG 213; CIP 103350; DSM 30191; IFO 12614; JCM 1249; LMG 1267; NBRC 12614; NCCB 80006; NCTC 9757

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: AB680302 Analyse FASTA

Effective publication: Bergonzini C. Sopra un nuovo bacterio colorato. Annuar Soc. Nat. Modena, Series 2 1880; 14:149-158.

IJSEM list: Skerman VBD, McGowan V, Sneath PHA. Approved lists of bacterial names. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1980; 30:225-420.

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

Taxonomic status: correct name (and explicitly recommended for medical use)

Risk group: 2

• Synonyms:

  • Name	Kind
    Chromobacterium pseudoviolaceum Kämpfer et al. 2009	heterotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP

• Notes:
  • 🥇 Nomenclatural type of the genus Chromobacterium Bergonzini 1880 (Approved Lists 1980). Publication: Bergonzini C. Sopra un nuovo bacterio colorato. Annuar Soc. Nat. Modena, Series 2 1880; 14:149-158.
  • ⏰ According to Kämpfer et al. (2018), this species is an earlier heterotypic synonym of Chromobacterium pseudoviolaceum Kämpfer et al. 2009. Publication: Kampfer P, Glaeser SP, Soby SD. Chromobacterium pseudoviolaceum Kampfer et al. 2009 is a later heterotypic synonym of Chromobacterium violaceum Bergonzini 1880. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2018; 68:2967-2968. 🇩🇪
  • 🏢 Synonymy of this taxon was mentioned in an IJSEM list. Publication: Oren A, Garrity GM. Notification list. Notification that new names and new combinations have appeared in volume 68, part 9 of the IJSEM. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2018; 68:3685-3687.
  • 😷 The risk group for Belgium has been imported on 2024-02-05. The full classification is: risk group = 2, note = "human and animal pathogen - biological class of risk animal: 2". — The risk group for Canada has been imported on 2024-02-27. The full classification is: risk group = 2, note = "Animal classification RG: 2 - Security sensitive biological agent: No - Terrestrial animal pathogen under Canadian Food Inspection Agency authority: No - Containment level: Containment Level 2". — The risk group for Swiss Confederation has been imported on 2024-02-01. The full classification is: risk group = 2. — The risk group for Germany has been imported on 2026-08-13. The full classification is: risk group = 2, note = "ht". — The risk group for Taiwan has been imported on 2024-11-03. The full classification is: risk group = 2, note = "P650 = v". — If in doubt, use the risk group given in the regulations for your country and, if these are not available, use the risk group given in the catalogue of the culture collection from which you have obtained or intend to obtain the strain.
  • 🎓 Name mentioned 1321 times in PubMed until 2026-06-11.
  • 🙆 This name is on the List of Recommended Names for bacteria of medical importance (LoRN) as the name to be applied to this species. The name is on LoRN because of the recorded risk group of the species itself.
  • 🧍 According to Bartlett et al. (2022), this species is an established human pathogen. Publication: Bartlett A, Padfield D, Lear L, Bendall R, Vos M. A comprehensive list of bacterial pathogens infecting humans. Microbiology (Reading) 2022; 168:0. 🇬🇧
  • 🧍 On the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names and on the amended edition of the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names this nomenclatural name is incorrectly cited as Chromobacterium violaceum Bergonzini 1881 (sic). Publication: Skerman VBD, McGowan V, Sneath PHA. Approved lists of bacterial names. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1980; 30:225-420.
  • 🧍 See also: Publication: Euzeby JP. Necessary corrections according to judicial opinions 16, 48 and 52. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1998; 48:613. 🇫🇷

Parent taxon: Chromobacterium Bergonzini 1880 (Approved Lists 1980)

Assigned by: Bergonzini C. Sopra un nuovo bacterio colorato. Annuar Soc. Nat. Modena, Series 2 1880; 14:149-158.

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Record number: 774700