Con.ser.va.ti.bac'ter. L. part. adj. conservatus conserved; N.L. masc. n. bacter rod; N.L. masc. n. Conservatibacter a rod‐shaped bacterium of conserved nature. The name refers to the genotypically conserved nature of the genus.

Proteobacteria / Gammaproteobacteria / Pasteurellales / Pasteurellaceae / Conservatibacter

The genus Conservatibacter is based on the characterization of 15 strains, all from guinea pigs. The strains were previously classified as Bisgaard taxon 7 by comparison of the phenotypic characteristics. The cells are Gram‐negative, nonmotile, and pleomorphic rods. The colonies are nonhemolytic on bovine blood agar. The 16S rRNA gene sequences are identical for the five strains investigated, and the partial rpoB gene sequences are identical for all 15 strains. The oxidase test is positive, and the catalase test is weak positive or negative. The Hugh and Leifson's test with glucose is fermentative. There are no requirements for X‐factor (positive in porphyrin synthesis) or V‐factor (no NAD requirement). The Simmons' citrate test is negative, and base is not formed from malonate just as acid is not formed from mucate. The tests for H2S/TSI, methyl red, Voges–Proskauer, and urease are negative. The genus can be separated from other genera of Pasteurellaceae by at least two phenotypic characters. The most distinctive characteristics aiding in the separation are a negative alkaline phosphatase test and a positive ornithine decarboxylase reaction and acid formation from many of the carbohydrates. DNA–DNA hybridization experiments documented a strong genotypic relationship between the strains. The only one species is Conservatibacter flavescens.

DNA G + C content (mol%): 39.5 determined by whole‐genomic sequencing.