Prodigiosin-Like Pigments

Abstract

Prodigiosin, the bright red pigment produced by certain strains of Serratia marcescens, is familiar to all microbiologists. Gaughran¹ published a fascinating account of the long history of the pigmented strains of S. marcescens for which no less than 21 synonyms have appeared in the literature. The rather rapid production of a flashy red pigment did not escape the observation of men before they had any inkling of the nature of microbial growth, and some of the early observations reported by Gaughran can now be understood in terms of prodigiosin production. For example, the Greek historian, Diodorus Siculus, wrote in the first century before Christ that “at the distribution of the rations on the Macedonian side, the broken pieces of bread had a bloody look.” With the advent of Christianity and the belief that Christ's body was incarnated in consecrated bread, the production of red pigment on bread appeared miraculous. Among the many examples reported by Gaughran¹ is one from Italy in 1198. “At the Mass, the Host turned to bloody flesh.”