Deinococcus radiodurans

General Information

Deinococcus radiodurans is a bacterium renowned for its extraordinary resistance to radiation. This microorganism can withstand acute doses of ionizing radiation that are thousands of times higher than what would be lethal to humans. Its resilience is not limited to radiation; it also shows remarkable resistance to desiccation, ultraviolet light, and oxidative stress. One of the most fascinating aspects of D. radiodurans is its ability to repair its DNA. After exposure to high levels of radiation, which can shatter its genome into hundreds of fragments, D. radiodurans can reassemble its DNA with high fidelity. This is achieved through a highly efficient and accurate DNA repair system, involving multiple pathways such as homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining. The bacterium's genome is organized into a unique structure, with multiple copies of its chromosome and plasmids, which may contribute to its robustness. The presence of highly efficient antioxidant enzymes also helps in mitigating the damage caused by reactive oxygen species. From a research perspective, Deinococcus radiodurans is invaluable for studying DNA repair mechanisms, which has implications for understanding cancer and aging in humans. Its resilience makes it a candidate for bioremediation of radioactive waste sites, as it can survive and function in highly radioactive environments. Additionally, its potential use in synthetic biology and biotechnology is being explored, particularly in the development of radiation-resistant materials and organisms. In summary, Deinococcus radiodurans is a model organism for studying extreme resistance to environmental stressors, with significant implications for medical, environmental, and biotechnological applications.

Deinococcus radiodurans is a remarkable bacterium known for its extraordinary resistance to ionizing radiation and desiccation. Often referred to as 'Conan the Bacterium,' it can withstand doses of radiation that are lethal to most other organisms, making it a subject of intense research interest in the fields of microbiology and astrobiology. This resilience is attributed to its unique DNA repair mechanisms, which allow it to effectively repair damage caused by radiation, including double-strand breaks in its DNA. One of the most fascinating aspects of D. radiodurans is its ability to survive extreme environmental conditions, including high levels of radiation, desiccation, and even exposure to toxic chemicals. This adaptability raises intriguing questions about the potential for life in extreme environments beyond Earth, such as on Mars or in the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn. In addition to its resilience, D. radiodurans has been studied for its potential applications in bioremediation. Its ability to survive and thrive in contaminated environments suggests that it could be harnessed to clean up radioactive waste or other hazardous materials. Research has shown that it can also degrade certain pollutants, making it a valuable organism for environmental biotechnology. Furthermore, the genetic and biochemical pathways that enable its remarkable survival strategies are of great interest to scientists. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to advancements in genetic engineering and synthetic biology, potentially allowing for the development of more resilient crops or microorganisms that can withstand harsh conditions. Overall, Deinococcus radiodurans stands out not only for its extreme resilience but also for its potential contributions to science and technology, making it a key organism in ongoing research efforts.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Deinococcota

Class: Deinococci

Order: Deinococcales

Family: Deinococcaceae

Genus: Deinococcus

Species: Deinococcus radiodurans

NCBI ID

1299

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/011/604/805/GCA_011604805.1_ASM1160480v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_011604805.1_ASM1160480v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The microorganism Deinococcus radiodurans is renowned for its extraordinary resistance to ionizing radiation and desiccation, making it a subject of interest in both environmental and clinical microbiology. While it is not typically associated with human disease, its remarkable DNA repair mechanisms have implications for biotechnology and medicine. This organism can survive extreme conditions that would be lethal to most other organisms, which has led to its exploration in fields such as bioremediation and astrobiology. In terms of pathogenicity, D. radiodurans is generally considered non-pathogenic; however, its ability to withstand harsh environments raises questions about its potential role in biofilm formation and infection in extreme conditions. Its unique properties have been harnessed in research aimed at developing new therapeutics and vaccines, particularly in enhancing the stability of vaccines against radiation. Moreover, the study of D. radiodurans has provided insights into antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, as its resilience may inform strategies to combat resistant pathogens. Understanding its immune evasion strategies could also contribute to the development of novel approaches to enhance human immune responses against more virulent organisms. Overall, while Deinococcus radiodurans is not a direct cause of human disease, its unique characteristics and resilience offer valuable opportunities for advancements in medical and environmental applications.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Deinococcus radiodurans is renowned for its remarkable resilience to extreme conditions, particularly ionizing radiation and desiccation. This unique characteristic has led to several industrial applications across various fields: 1. Biotechnology: Deinococcus radiodurans is utilized in the development of bioremediation strategies, particularly in the cleanup of radioactive waste. Its ability to withstand high levels of radiation makes it an ideal candidate for waste treatment processes in contaminated environments, where it can help degrade hazardous materials. 2. Biofuel Production: The organism has been explored for its potential in biofuel production. Its metabolic pathways can be harnessed to convert biomass into biofuels, particularly through fermentation processes that yield ethanol and other biofuels from organic substrates. 3. Pharmaceutical Development: Due to its robust DNA repair mechanisms, Deinococcus radiodurans is being studied for its potential in pharmaceutical development. It can be used in the production of stable vaccines and other biologics that require high levels of radiation for sterilization without compromising the integrity of the product. 4. Enzyme Production: The organism is also a source of unique enzymes that can function under extreme conditions. These enzymes have applications in various industries, including food processing and biotechnology, where they can be used in enzyme production for processes that require high temperatures or radiation. 5. Agricultural Applications: Research is ongoing into the use of Deinococcus radiodurans in agriculture, particularly in developing crops that can withstand drought and radiation, thereby enhancing food security in challenging environments. Overall, Deinococcus radiodurans demonstrates significant potential across multiple industries, particularly in areas requiring resilience to extreme conditions and effective biodegradation capabilities.

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: 9

LLM predicted phenotypes: 4

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

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