Paraburkholderia aspalathi

General Information

Paraburkholderia aspalathi is a fascinating microorganism that belongs to the genus Paraburkholderia. This bacterium is particularly interesting due to its plant growth-promoting properties. It has been isolated from the root nodules of Aspalathus linearis, commonly known as the rooibos plant, which is native to South Africa. One of the most notable characteristics of P. aspalathi is its ability to form a symbiotic relationship with its host plant. This symbiosis is beneficial for the plant as the bacterium can fix atmospheric nitrogen, converting it into a form that the plant can readily use. This nitrogen-fixing capability is crucial for the growth of the rooibos plant in nutrient-poor soils, making P. aspalathi an important player in sustainable agriculture. Additionally, Paraburkholderia aspalathi has shown potential in bioremediation. It can degrade various environmental pollutants, including aromatic compounds, which makes it valuable for cleaning up contaminated environments. This ability to break down pollutants is due to its diverse metabolic pathways, which allow it to utilize a wide range of organic compounds as energy sources. From a research perspective, P. aspalathi is also of interest due to its genomic plasticity. The genome of this bacterium is highly adaptable, allowing it to survive and thrive in different environmental conditions. This adaptability is a subject of ongoing research, as understanding the genetic mechanisms behind it could lead to advancements in microbial biotechnology and synthetic biology. In summary, Paraburkholderia aspalathi is a microorganism with significant ecological and biotechnological importance. Its plant growth-promoting properties, bioremediation potential, and genomic adaptability make it a valuable subject for scientific research and practical applications.

Paraburkholderia aspalathi is a fascinating bacterium that has garnered attention due to its unique ecological niche and potential applications in biotechnology. This species is primarily associated with the plant Aspalathus linearis, commonly known as rooibos, which is native to South Africa. The relationship between Paraburkholderia aspalathi and its host plant is particularly interesting, as it plays a significant role in the plant's health and growth, potentially enhancing its resistance to environmental stressors. One of the standout features of Paraburkholderia aspalathi is its ability to engage in symbiotic interactions with plants, which can lead to improved nutrient uptake and increased resilience against pathogens. This characteristic makes it a valuable organism for research in sustainable agriculture and plant-microbe interactions. Moreover, Paraburkholderia aspalathi is known for its metabolic versatility, allowing it to thrive in various environments. This adaptability is of great interest to researchers studying microbial ecology and the potential for bioremediation, as it may be capable of degrading pollutants or utilizing diverse carbon sources. In addition, the genomic and biochemical properties of Paraburkholderia aspalathi are being explored for their potential in biotechnological applications, such as the production of bioactive compounds that could have pharmaceutical or agricultural benefits. The ongoing research into this organism highlights its potential as a model for understanding complex microbial communities and their interactions with plants, making it a significant subject of study in microbiology and environmental science.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Pseudomonadota

Class: Betaproteobacteria

Order: Burkholderiales

Family: Burkholderiaceae

Genus: Paraburkholderia

Species: Paraburkholderia aspalathi

NCBI ID

1324617

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/900/116/445/GCA_900116445.1_IMG-taxon_2671180117_annotated_assembly

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_900116445.1_IMG-taxon_2671180117_annotated_assembly_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Paraburkholderia aspalathi is a member of the Burkholderia genus, which is known for its diverse ecological roles and potential clinical implications. While specific studies on P. aspalathi are limited, its close relatives in the Burkholderia genus have been associated with various infections and diseases. Notably, members of this genus can be opportunistic pathogens, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, leading to serious conditions such as pneumonia, sepsis, and soft tissue infections. One of the significant concerns regarding Paraburkholderia species is their potential for antimicrobial resistance. Many Burkholderia species exhibit resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, complicating treatment options for infections. This resistance is often attributed to the presence of efflux pumps, beta-lactamases, and other resistance mechanisms that allow these organisms to survive in hostile environments, including the presence of antimicrobial agents. In terms of human health, P. aspalathi may also play a role in the microbiome, particularly in specific environments such as soil or plant-associated habitats. Its interactions with the human body, while not fully understood, could involve immune evasion strategies that allow it to persist in various niches without causing disease. Furthermore, the potential for P. aspalathi to be utilized in biotechnological applications, such as bioremediation or as a plant growth-promoting bacterium, highlights its relevance beyond pathogenicity. However, more research is needed to fully elucidate its clinical significance and potential applications in medicine, including any roles in probiotics or therapeutics.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Paraburkholderia aspalathi is primarily associated with tropical and subtropical ecosystems, particularly in regions where its host plants, such as the Aspalathus species, are prevalent. This microorganism thrives in well-drained soils that are rich in organic matter, often found in areas with a Mediterranean climate characterized by wet winters and dry summers. The organism plays a crucial role in nitrogen fixation, contributing to soil fertility and enhancing plant growth, which is particularly important in nutrient-poor environments. In addition to its role in nitrogen cycling, Paraburkholderia aspalathi exhibits symbiotic relationships with its host plants, aiding in their nutrient uptake and overall health. This interaction is vital for the survival of both the microorganism and the plants, as it allows for a mutual exchange of resources. The presence of Paraburkholderia aspalathi can also influence the microbial community structure in the soil, promoting biodiversity and resilience in the ecosystem. Overall, the ecological niche of Paraburkholderia aspalathi is defined by its adaptation to specific soil types and climatic conditions, making it an integral component of the biomes it inhabits.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Paraburkholderia aspalathi has shown significant potential in various industrial applications. One of the most notable areas is in biotechnology, where it is utilized for biodegradation of environmental pollutants. This organism can effectively break down complex organic compounds, making it valuable in waste management processes aimed at reducing toxic waste in soil and water. In the realm of biofuel production, Paraburkholderia aspalathi has been studied for its ability to ferment biomass into bioethanol, showcasing its role in fermentation processes that convert agricultural waste into renewable energy sources. This not only contributes to sustainable energy solutions but also aids in the reduction of waste. Furthermore, the organism has potential applications in pharmaceutical development due to its unique metabolic pathways that can be harnessed for the production of bioactive compounds. These compounds may serve as precursors for drug synthesis or as therapeutic agents themselves. Overall, Paraburkholderia aspalathi exemplifies the versatility of microorganisms in addressing environmental challenges and contributing to sustainable industrial practices through its involvement in biodegradation, fermentation, and potential enzyme production for various applications.

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: 8

LLM predicted phenotypes: 5

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