Enterobacteriaceae \En`ter*o*bac`te*ri*a"ce*ae\
([e^]n`t[~e]r*[-o]*b[a^]k`t[=e]r*[=e]*[=a]"s[=e]*[=e]), prop.
n. (Microbiol.)
a natural family of rod-shaped gram-negative bacteria, most
of which occur normally or pathogenically in intestines of
humans and other animals, and some of which grow in plants.
The type genus is Escherichia. They are aerobic and
facultatively anaerobic, and may be motile or non-motile.
Most are easily cultured on artificial growth media. Both
pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains exist.
[PJC]
Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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