Citrobacter youngae

General Information

Citrobacter youngae is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family, which includes a variety of bacteria that are often found in the environment, as well as in the intestines of animals and humans. This species is particularly interesting due to its ability to metabolize a wide range of substrates, making it a versatile organism in both clinical and environmental contexts. One of the most notable characteristics of C. youngae is its potential for bioremediation. It has been studied for its ability to degrade pollutants, including heavy metals and various organic compounds, which makes it valuable for environmental cleanup efforts. This capability is linked to its diverse metabolic pathways and the presence of specific enzymes that can break down complex molecules. In the clinical setting, Citrobacter youngae is recognized for its role in opportunistic infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. It can cause a range of infections, including urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and septicemia. The ability of this bacterium to acquire and transfer antibiotic resistance genes is a significant concern, highlighting the importance of monitoring and understanding its resistance mechanisms. From a research perspective, C. youngae serves as a model organism for studying bacterial adaptation and survival in various environments. Its genetic makeup provides insights into the mechanisms of pathogenicity, resistance, and environmental resilience. Researchers are particularly interested in its regulatory networks and gene expression profiles under different stress conditions, which can inform broader studies on bacterial behavior and evolution. Overall, Citrobacter youngae is a fascinating organism due to its metabolic versatility, environmental significance, and clinical implications. Its study not only advances our understanding of microbial ecology and pathogenesis but also contributes to the development of new strategies for bioremediation and infection control.

Citrobacter youngae is a fascinating member of the Citrobacter genus, notable for its unique ecological niche and potential implications in both environmental and clinical microbiology. This organism has been isolated from various environments, including soil and water, which highlights its adaptability and resilience in diverse habitats. One of the most interesting aspects of C. youngae is its ability to degrade a variety of organic compounds, making it a candidate for bioremediation efforts aimed at detoxifying polluted environments. In addition to its environmental significance, C. youngae has been implicated in human infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. This dual role as both a beneficial and potentially pathogenic organism makes it a valuable subject for research. Understanding the genetic and metabolic pathways of C. youngae can provide insights into its mechanisms of survival and pathogenicity, which is crucial for developing effective treatment strategies and environmental applications. Furthermore, studies on C. youngae contribute to the broader understanding of the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly in terms of antibiotic resistance patterns and the evolution of virulence factors. This organism serves as a reminder of the complex interactions between microorganisms and their environments, as well as the need for continued research in microbial ecology and clinical microbiology.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Pseudomonadota

Class: Gammaproteobacteria

Order: Enterobacterales

Family: Enterobacteriaceae

Genus: Citrobacter

Species: Citrobacter youngae

NCBI ID

133448

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/900/638/065/GCA_900638065.1_55685_A01

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_900638065.1_55685_A01_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Citrobacter youngae is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family and has been associated with various clinical implications. It is primarily known for its role in infections in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those with underlying health conditions such as diabetes or malignancies. The organism can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs), bacteremia, and meningitis, especially in neonates and infants. Its pathogenicity is attributed to its ability to produce virulence factors that facilitate immune evasion and enhance its survival in hostile environments, such as the human host. One of the significant concerns regarding Citrobacter youngae is its potential for antimicrobial resistance. Strains of this organism have been documented to exhibit resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, including beta-lactams and aminoglycosides, which complicates treatment options and poses a challenge in clinical settings. This resistance is often mediated by the production of beta-lactamases and other efflux mechanisms that allow the organism to survive despite antibiotic exposure. In terms of medical applications, while Citrobacter youngae is not typically used in probiotics or vaccines, understanding its pathogenic mechanisms is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Ongoing research into its genetic makeup and resistance patterns is essential for improving clinical outcomes in affected patients and preventing outbreaks associated with this organism. Overall, Citrobacter youngae represents a significant concern in clinical microbiology due to its pathogenic potential and resistance profiles.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Citrobacter youngae is a species of bacteria commonly found in various habitat types associated with both terrestrial and aquatic environments. This microorganism is particularly prevalent in soil and water ecosystems, where it plays a significant role in nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition. Its ability to thrive in diverse conditions makes it an important player in the microbial community dynamics of these biomes. In soil ecosystems, C. youngae contributes to the breakdown of complex organic compounds, facilitating the release of nutrients that are essential for plant growth. This process not only enhances soil fertility but also supports a variety of other organisms, establishing a symbiotic relationship with plants and other soil-dwelling microbes. In aquatic environments, such as freshwater lakes and rivers, C. youngae can be found in sediment and water columns, where it participates in the degradation of organic pollutants. This capability underscores its role in bioremediation, helping to maintain the health of aquatic ecosystems by reducing the concentration of harmful substances. Furthermore, C. youngae exhibits adaptability to varying environmental conditions, including changes in pH and temperature, which allows it to occupy a wide range of ecological niches. Its presence in both natural and anthropogenically influenced environments highlights its ecological significance and potential applications in environmental management and biotechnology.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Citrobacter youngae has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology, waste management, and pharmaceutical development. This organism is known for its ability to participate in fermentation processes, which can be harnessed for the production of various metabolites and bioactive compounds. In the realm of biotechnology, Citrobacter youngae can be utilized for the production of enzymes that are essential in various industrial processes. These enzymes can facilitate biodegradation of complex organic materials, making this microorganism valuable in waste management applications, particularly in the treatment of wastewater and the breakdown of pollutants. Moreover, its metabolic capabilities allow for the conversion of waste products into useful substances, contributing to a more sustainable approach in industrial practices. In biofuel production, Citrobacter youngae may play a role in the fermentation of biomass, leading to the generation of bioethanol or other biofuels, thus supporting the shift towards renewable energy sources. Additionally, in pharmaceutical development, the organism's ability to produce specific metabolites can be explored for the synthesis of drugs or as precursors in drug formulation. Overall, Citrobacter youngae presents a multifaceted potential in various industries, particularly through its involvement in fermentation, biodegradation, and enzyme production.

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/gemma-7b-it	google/gemini-flash-1.5	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	google/gemini-pro	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-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	google/gemini-pro-1.5	google/gemini-pro-1.5	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro
Motility	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 ✓
Gram staining	gram stain negative	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	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 ✓
Aerophilicity	aerobic	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	FALSE	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	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
Animal pathogenicity	N/A	false	true	false	true	true	true	true	false	true	true	true	true	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false
Biosafety level	biosafety level 2	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓
Health association	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	true	true	true	true	false	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Host association	TRUE	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓
Plant pathogenicity	N/A	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 ✓
Hemolysis	N/A	alpha	gamma	N/A	beta	beta	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	alpha	alpha	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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