n :  a genus of aerobic saprophytic flagellated rod-shaped bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae that occur as rods, commonly produce a bright red pigment, and are now usu. considered serotypes of a single species (S. marcescens) which has been implicated in some human opportunistic infections
 
Ser•ra•ti, Serafino, Italian boatman. The genus Serratia was so named in 1823 by Bartolomeo Bizio, a bacteriologist at the University of Padua, Italy, in honor of Serrati, who was engaged in operating a steamboat on the Arno River.
 
 
 
Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.  © 1997-2024.