Bacillus sonorensis

General Information

Bacillus sonorensis is a fascinating microorganism that has garnered attention due to its remarkable adaptability and biotechnological potential. This species was first isolated from the Sonoran Desert, which underscores its ability to thrive in extreme environments characterized by high temperatures and low moisture levels. This resilience makes B. sonorensis an interesting subject for studies on extremophiles and their survival mechanisms. One of the most notable features of B. sonorensis is its production of enzymes that are highly stable and active under harsh conditions. These enzymes, such as proteases and amylases, have significant industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The thermostability of these enzymes makes them ideal for processes that require high temperatures, such as in the production of biofuels and the degradation of industrial waste. Additionally, B. sonorensis has been studied for its potential in bioremediation. Its ability to degrade various pollutants, including hydrocarbons and heavy metals, positions it as a valuable tool for cleaning up contaminated environments. This capability is particularly important in efforts to mitigate the impact of industrial pollution on ecosystems. From a genetic perspective, B. sonorensis is intriguing due to its genomic plasticity. The organism's genome contains a variety of genes that confer resistance to environmental stresses, which can be leveraged in synthetic biology to engineer robust microbial strains for various applications. In summary, Bacillus sonorensis stands out due to its extreme environmental resilience, industrial enzyme production, and bioremediation potential. These characteristics make it a valuable organism for both fundamental research and practical applications in multiple industries.

Bacillus sonorensis is a fascinating bacterium that was first isolated from desert soil in the Sonoran Desert, which is known for its extreme environmental conditions. This organism is particularly interesting due to its ability to thrive in arid environments, showcasing remarkable adaptations that allow it to survive in conditions that would be inhospitable to many other microorganisms. Its resilience to desiccation and ability to utilize a variety of carbon sources make it a valuable subject for studies on microbial ecology and desert biogeography. One of the unique features of B. sonorensis is its potential for biotechnological applications. Research has indicated that this bacterium can produce enzymes that are useful in various industrial processes, including the degradation of complex organic materials. This characteristic positions B. sonorensis as a candidate for bioremediation efforts, particularly in arid regions where pollution and waste management are pressing concerns. Additionally, B. sonorensis has been studied for its role in soil health and nutrient cycling. Its interactions with other soil microorganisms can enhance soil fertility and promote plant growth, making it an important player in desert ecosystems. The study of this bacterium not only contributes to our understanding of microbial life in extreme environments but also has implications for agricultural practices in arid regions. Overall, Bacillus sonorensis stands out as a model organism for exploring the limits of microbial life, with significant potential for practical applications in environmental science and biotechnology.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Bacillota

Class: Bacilli

Order: Bacillales

Family: Bacillaceae

Genus: Bacillus

Species: Bacillus sonorensis

NCBI ID

119858

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/002/202/015/GCF_002202015.1_ASM220201v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_002202015.1_ASM220201v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

The bacterium Bacillus sonorensis is a member of the Bacillus genus, which is known for its diverse roles in both environmental and clinical settings. While B. sonorensis is not commonly associated with human disease, it is important to consider its potential implications in various contexts. Clinical relevance primarily arises from its ability to produce antimicrobial compounds, which may have applications in developing new therapeutics. This organism has been studied for its potential use in biocontrol and bioremediation, showcasing its beneficial properties in agriculture and environmental management. In terms of pathogenicity, B. sonorensis is generally regarded as non-pathogenic; however, like many Bacillus species, it can form endospores that contribute to its resilience in harsh environments. This characteristic raises concerns about its potential to act as a contaminant in clinical settings, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Antimicrobial resistance is a critical area of study, as some Bacillus species have shown the ability to acquire resistance genes, which could complicate treatment options if B. sonorensis were to be implicated in infections. Furthermore, the organism's interaction with the human microbiome is an area of ongoing research. While not a primary inhabitant of the human gut, its presence in certain environments suggests it may play a role in microbial diversity and ecosystem balance. Overall, while B. sonorensis is not a major pathogen, its potential applications in medicine and agriculture, along with its resilience and resistance mechanisms, warrant further investigation.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

Bacillus sonorensis is a bacterium commonly found in various soil environments and is particularly associated with arid and semi-arid regions. This microorganism thrives in nutrient-rich soils where it plays a crucial role in the decomposition of organic matter, contributing to soil fertility and health. Its ability to form endospores allows it to withstand extreme conditions, including drought and high temperatures, making it well-adapted to its environment. In these biomes, Bacillus sonorensis engages in nutrient cycling, breaking down complex organic compounds and releasing essential nutrients back into the soil. This process not only supports plant growth but also enhances the overall biodiversity of the ecosystem. Furthermore, it can exhibit symbiotic relationships with various plants, aiding in nutrient uptake and promoting plant health. Additionally, Bacillus sonorensis has been noted for its potential in bioremediation, where it can help in the degradation of pollutants in contaminated soils. Its presence in these environments underscores its importance in maintaining ecological balance and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Industrial Application

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

The bacterium Bacillus sonorensis has shown significant potential in various industrial applications due to its unique metabolic capabilities. One of the primary areas of interest is in biotechnology, where B. sonorensis is utilized for its ability to produce enzymes that can be harnessed in biocatalysis processes. These enzymes are particularly valuable in the food industry for applications such as fermentation, where they can enhance the flavor and texture of products like cheese and soy sauce. In the realm of waste management, B. sonorensis has demonstrated effectiveness in biodegradation processes, where it can break down complex organic materials, thus aiding in the treatment of wastewater and reducing environmental pollution. This capability is crucial for developing sustainable waste treatment solutions. Moreover, the potential of B. sonorensis in biofuel production is noteworthy. The organism can be involved in fermentation processes that convert biomass into bioethanol, providing a renewable energy source that can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels. In pharmaceutical development, B. sonorensis is being explored for its ability to produce bioactive compounds that may have therapeutic properties. This includes the production of antibiotics and other medicinal compounds, which can be critical in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Overall, Bacillus sonorensis represents a versatile microorganism with promising applications across multiple industries, particularly in enhancing sustainability and efficiency in various processes.

Phenotypes and Predictions

The table shows the phenotypes and predictions. Cell colors indicate the class of the value. When literature-based data is available, a checkmark (✓) indicates a correct prediction, while an ✗ indicates an incorrect prediction.

Literature-based phenotypes: 10

LLM predicted phenotypes: 3

Phenotype	High-quality annotation	google/gemini-flash-1.5	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	google/gemma-7b-it	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	google/gemini-pro	google/gemini-pro	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	google/gemini-pro-1.5	google/gemini-pro-1.5	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	openchat/openchat-7b	openchat/openchat-7b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct
Motility	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗
Gram staining	gram stain positive	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain negative ✗	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓
Aerophilicity	aerobic	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	FALSE	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗
Biofilm formation	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓
Animal pathogenicity	N/A	false	true	true	false	false	false	true	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false
Biosafety level	biosafety level 1	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗
Health association	N/A	false	true	true	false	true	true	true	false	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false
Host association	FALSE	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗
Plant pathogenicity	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Spore formation	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓
Hemolysis	N/A	gamma	beta	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	beta	beta	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Cell shape	bacillus	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓

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