Brucella ceti

General Information

Brucella ceti is a fascinating microorganism primarily known for its association with marine mammals, particularly cetaceans such as dolphins and whales. This bacterium is part of the genus Brucella, which is notorious for causing brucellosis, a zoonotic disease that can affect various animal species and humans. However, B. ceti is unique in its adaptation to marine environments and its specific host range. One of the most intriguing aspects of Brucella ceti is its ability to infect and cause disease in cetaceans, leading to conditions such as meningoencephalitis, pneumonia, and reproductive disorders. These infections can have significant impacts on the health and conservation of marine mammal populations. The study of B. ceti is crucial for understanding the epidemiology of brucellosis in marine ecosystems and for developing strategies to protect endangered marine species. From a research perspective, Brucella ceti offers valuable insights into host-pathogen interactions in marine environments. Its genome has been sequenced, revealing genes that may be involved in its pathogenicity and adaptation to marine hosts. This information is essential for developing diagnostic tools and vaccines to manage brucellosis in marine mammals. Moreover, B. ceti serves as a model organism for studying the evolution of the Brucella genus. Comparative genomics between B. ceti and other Brucella species can shed light on the genetic changes that enable these bacteria to infect different hosts and thrive in diverse environments. Understanding these evolutionary mechanisms can provide broader insights into bacterial adaptation and pathogenicity. In summary, Brucella ceti is a unique and valuable microorganism for research due to its specific association with marine mammals, its impact on marine mammal health, and its potential to enhance our understanding of bacterial evolution and host-pathogen interactions in marine ecosystems.

Brucella ceti is a notable member of the genus Brucella, primarily recognized for its role as a pathogen in marine mammals, particularly cetaceans such as dolphins and whales. This organism is of significant interest due to its unique ecological niche and its implications for wildlife health and conservation. One of the most intriguing aspects of B. ceti is its ability to adapt to the marine environment, which sets it apart from other members of the Brucella genus that typically infect terrestrial animals. The pathogenicity of B. ceti is linked to its ability to evade the host immune response, making it a fascinating subject for research into host-pathogen interactions. Studies have shown that B. ceti can cause brucellosis in marine mammals, leading to reproductive issues and population declines in affected species. This raises important questions about the impact of environmental changes and human activities on marine ecosystems. Furthermore, B. ceti serves as a model for understanding zoonotic diseases, as it has the potential to infect humans, although such cases are rare. The organism's unique genetic and biochemical properties provide valuable insights into the evolution of pathogenic bacteria and their adaptation mechanisms. Research on B. ceti not only contributes to marine biology but also enhances our understanding of infectious diseases that can cross species barriers, making it a critical focus for both veterinary and public health studies. In summary, Brucella ceti stands out due to its specialized adaptation to marine hosts, its role in wildlife health, and its implications for zoonotic disease research, making it a valuable organism for ongoing scientific investigation.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Pseudomonadota

Class: Alphaproteobacteria

Order: Hyphomicrobiales

Family: Brucellaceae

Genus: Brucella

Species: Brucella ceti

NCBI ID

120577

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/002/245/555/GCF_002245555.1_ASM224555v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_002245555.1_ASM224555v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The bacterium Brucella ceti is a significant pathogen associated with brucellosis, primarily affecting marine mammals but also recognized for its potential to infect humans. In humans, it can lead to a form of brucellosis characterized by symptoms such as fever, sweats, malaise, and muscle pain. The organism is known for its ability to evade the immune response through various mechanisms, including the inhibition of phagosome-lysosome fusion in macrophages, allowing it to survive and replicate within host cells. This pathogenicity is a critical factor in its clinical implications, as it can lead to chronic infections that are difficult to treat. Furthermore, Brucella ceti has been associated with zoonotic transmission, particularly through contact with infected marine mammals or consumption of contaminated food products. The potential for antimicrobial resistance in Brucella species is a growing concern, as treatment often relies on prolonged courses of antibiotics, and resistance can complicate management strategies. In terms of medical applications, while Brucella ceti itself does not have direct therapeutic uses, understanding its biology and pathogenic mechanisms is crucial for developing effective vaccines and treatments for brucellosis. The organism's role in outbreaks among marine mammal populations also highlights its ecological significance and the need for monitoring in both wildlife and human health contexts.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Brucella ceti is a species of bacteria primarily associated with marine environments, particularly in the context of marine mammals such as cetaceans (whales and dolphins). This organism is known to inhabit the marine biome, where it can be found in the tissues and bodily fluids of its hosts. The ecological niches occupied by Brucella ceti are often linked to the health and immune responses of these marine mammals, making it a significant player in the dynamics of marine ecosystems. Habitat Types: - Brucella ceti thrives in the marine waters where its hosts reside, often in coastal regions and open ocean environments. It is particularly prevalent in areas where marine mammals congregate, such as breeding grounds and feeding areas. Ecological Role: - This bacterium is known to cause brucellosis in cetaceans, leading to various health issues that can affect population dynamics. Its presence can indicate the health of marine mammal populations and the overall health of the marine ecosystem. - Brucella ceti can also interact with other microorganisms in the marine environment, contributing to the complex microbial communities that play essential roles in nutrient cycling and energy flow within the ecosystem. Symbiotic Relationships: - While Brucella ceti is primarily a pathogen, its interactions with marine mammals can lead to a deeper understanding of host-pathogen dynamics in marine environments. The study of this bacterium can provide insights into the health of marine mammal populations and the impacts of environmental changes on these species. In summary, Brucella ceti is intricately linked to the marine biome, influencing both the health of its hosts and the broader ecological interactions within marine ecosystems.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Brucella ceti is primarily known for its role in veterinary medicine and its association with marine mammals. However, its potential industrial applications are emerging, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceutical development. In biotechnology, Brucella ceti can be studied for its unique metabolic pathways and its ability to survive in harsh environments, which may lead to the development of novel bioprocesses. For instance, its enzymatic activity could be harnessed for the production of specific enzymes that are useful in various industrial applications, such as biocatalysis in chemical synthesis. In the realm of pharmaceutical development, research into Brucella ceti has highlighted its potential as a model organism for understanding pathogenic mechanisms and developing vaccines. The insights gained from studying this microorganism can contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies against brucellosis and other related diseases. While Brucella ceti is not widely recognized for applications in waste management or biofuel production, its study may provide valuable information on microbial interactions in marine environments, which could indirectly influence these fields. Overall, the industrial applications of Brucella ceti are still being explored, but its significance in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals is noteworthy.

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

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