Acetobacter suboxydans, or as it has been renamed, Gluconobacter oxydans, turns out to be a rather industrially useful bacteria as well as having quite an interesting history behind it. G. oxydans gets its name from oxys; Latin for "sharp, acidic", and dans; "giving". This oxidizing bacteria is Gram type-negative of the ACETOBACTERACEAE found on flowers and fruit, and can be used for sorbose fermentation, which will be discussed shortly. They are typically ovoid or rod-shaped and grow to be as large as 0.8µm x 4.2µm, and are non-motile or lophotrichously flagellated. Since they are catalase positive they are obligately aerobic organisms. The colonies are circular with a diameter of 3mm, raised or convex, and are regularly edged. They may be white in color, yellow, or even brown towards the middle of the colony. Their optimal growth temperature is 25-30oC, however, no growth occurs at 37oC. They prefer pHs of 5.5 - 6.0.