Venlafaksinella

Venlafaksinella is a genus of bacteria from the family Flavobacteriaceae, which is part of the phylum Bacteroidota. This genus was first described in 2014 and is named after the antibiotic venlafaxine, which is used to treat depression and anxiety. The genus includes two known species, Venlafaxinella marina and Venlafaxinella aquatica. These bacteria are typically found in marine environments, such as seawater and sediments, and are known for their ability to degrade various organic compounds, including venlafaxine itself. The degradation of venlafaxine by these bacteria is an important process in the natural attenuation of this pharmaceutical compound in aquatic ecosystems. Venlafaksinella species are rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacteria, and their metabolism is primarily aerobic. They are of interest to researchers studying bioremediation and the environmental fate of pharmaceuticals.