alcaligenes

\\ˌalkəˈlijəˌnēz\ noun

Etymology: New Latin, from French alcali alkali + Greek -genēs -gen — more at alkali

1. capitalized : a genus of usually aerobic and gram-negative bacteria that are related to the achromobacters, do not ferment carbohydrates and are aerobes or facultative anaerobes, occur in the intestines of man and animals and in dairy products, and are probably all nonpathogenic though one species (A. viscosum) is economically important as a cause of a ropy condition of milk

2. plural alcaligenes : an organism of the genus Alcaligenes

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/al'keuh lij"euh neez'/, n., pl. alcaligenes. Bacteriol.

any of several rod-shaped aerobic or facultatively anaerobic bacteria of the genus Alcaligenes, found in the intestinal tract of humans and other vertebrates and in dairy products.

[1919; < NL < F alcali- ALKALI + Gk -genes; see -GEN]