The pink colour is due to a pigment secreted by a species of bacteria known as Serratia marcescens, found naturally in soil, air and water. They can cause infections, but that generally happens in hospitals and affects people with compromised immune systems.
A bright pink color often accompanies an S. Marcescens colonization is due prodigiosin a red-orange pigment produced by the bacteria at temperatures lower than 98.6 F.
Abstract. Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative, facultatively-anaerobic bacterium and opportunistic pathogen which produces the red pigment prodigiosin.
Pigmentation of Serratia marcescens depends on the composition of the cultivation medium. The cultures grown on glycerol-peptone medium and on the medium with acetate are red and yellow (yellowish orange), respectively, with the color depending on the ambient pH.
The most common cause of this pink "stuff" is a red or pink pigmented bacteria known as Serratia marcescens. Serratia bacteria are common inhabitants of our environment and can be found in many places, including human and animal feces, dust, soil, and in surface waters.
Although most often known as pink mold, the formal name for this unsightly slime is Serratia marcescens. This type of bacteria is abundant in the air and can easily take up residence in damp spaces. Pink mold can feed off of fatty substances of phosphorus-containing materials, such as those found in shampoos or soaps.
Pink residue is generally not a problem with water quality. In fact, pink residue is likely a result of airborne bacteria which produce a pinkish or dark gray film on regularly moist surfaces. Such surfaces include toilet bowls, shower heads, sink drains, and tiles.
Many experts agree that the bacteria that causes these pink stains is most likely Serratia marcescens, a bacteria which is found naturally in soil, food, and in animals. Serratia, which produce a characteristic red pigment, thrive on moisture, dust, and phosphates and need almost nothing to survive.
Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative, facultatively-anaerobic bacterium and opportunistic pathogen which produces the red pigment prodigiosin.
Serratia marcescens is red at 25 C and white at 37 C.
Serratia Marcescens is a strain of bacteria commonly found in the environment. S. Marcescens produces a red pigment (i.e. colonies are red) when grown at 24-30°C.
marcescens notable in the world of antibiotic resistance. Beyond chromosomal-mediated resistance, it also has the ability to acquire resistance mechanisms from other bacteria and is intrinsically resistant to penicillin G, clindamycin, macrolides, glycopeptides, linezolid, and rifampin.
Because of its red pigmentation, caused by expression of the dye prodigiosin, and its ability to grow on bread, S. marcescens has been evoked as a naturalistic explanation of medieval accounts of the "miraculous" appearance of blood on the Corporal of Bolsena.
Serratia marcescens MN200 showed pigment production at temperatures 32, 34 and 36 °C (Fig. 5). At 38 and 40 °C no growth was detected.
The bacterium has a protein that causes a reaction that is particularly fast at high temperature. This reaction probably prevents a gene from being expressed, a gene that makes the red pigment.
Pink stains in bathtubs, toilets, and showers are caused by a bacteria called Serratia marcescens, which is found naturally in the environment. This bacteria is airborne and finds a home on moist surfaces.
Since the gram stain of Serratia marcescens revealed that the organism was a gram negative bacteria, MacConkey's agar served as a selective media. The organism grew as dark red colonies against the light pink background of the media.
Finally, Serratia marcescens grows well on MacConkey agar which is a medium that contains a pH sensitive dye and lactose. This medium helps identify whether Gram-negative bacteria are lactose fermenters or not.
But you have probably never heard of one of the inductees. Serratia marcescens is a forgotten but ubiquitous bacterium that can produce a red pigment called prodigiosin and likes to hang out as a pink film in the shower grout and toilet bowls of less-than-scrupulously clean homes.
Gram positive bacteria have a distinctive purple appearance when observed under a light microscope following Gram staining. This is due to retention of the purple crystal violet stain in the thick peptidoglycan layer of the cell wall.
Biofilms can also be seen as pink staining, particularly between tiles. The pink staining is due to the growth of an airborne bacteria known as Serratia Marcescens, often associated with new build properties or where construction has been carried out.
The Gram stain procedure distinguishes between Gram positive and Gram negative groups by coloring these cells red or violet. Gram positive bacteria stain violet due to the presence of a thick layer of peptidoglycan in their cell walls, which retains the crystal violet these cells are stained with.
Is Pink Water Safe to Drink or Use? As pink water does not pose any immediate health risks, it has been deemed safe to drink and use. However, if an individual has sensitive skin, it is advisable to use an alternative source of water for bathing until your tap water begins to run clear.
It's usually not as hazardous to your health as black mold and other fungi, but there are some pink mold dangers, such as urinary tract infections, intestinal problems and in rare cases pneumonia. You'll definitely want to rid your bathroom of the pink mold and take steps to keep it from coming back.
Inhalation The product is considered to be a low hazard under normal conditions of use. Ingestion The product is considered to be a low hazard under normal conditions of use. May be harmful if swallowed. Skin contact Prolonged skin contact may cause temporary irritation.