Bacillus atrophaeus

General Information

Bacillus atrophaeus is a fascinating microorganism that has garnered significant attention in various fields of research and industry. One of the most noteworthy characteristics of B. atrophaeus is its use as a surrogate for Bacillus anthracis in studies related to bioterrorism and biodefense. This is due to its similar spore-forming capabilities and environmental resilience, making it a safer alternative for testing decontamination procedures and detection methods. Another unique aspect of B. atrophaeus is its pigmentation. The species name 'atrophaeus' is derived from the Greek word for 'dark,' referring to the dark brown to black pigment that some strains produce. This pigmentation can be a useful phenotypic marker in laboratory settings. In the realm of biotechnology, B. atrophaeus is valued for its ability to produce enzymes such as proteases and amylases, which have applications in industrial processes including the production of detergents and the breakdown of starches. The organism's robustness and ease of cultivation make it an attractive candidate for large-scale enzyme production. Furthermore, B. atrophaeus has been studied for its potential in bioremediation. Its ability to degrade various organic pollutants, including hydrocarbons, makes it a promising agent for cleaning up contaminated environments. This capability is particularly important in addressing environmental pollution and promoting sustainable practices. Overall, Bacillus atrophaeus stands out due to its versatility and applicability in multiple domains, from biodefense to industrial biotechnology and environmental science. Its unique properties continue to make it a subject of extensive research and practical applications.

Bacillus atrophaeus is a fascinating bacterium known for its resilience and versatility. This species is particularly notable for its ability to produce endospores, which allows it to survive extreme environmental conditions, including high temperatures and desiccation. This characteristic makes B. atrophaeus an excellent model organism for studying spore formation and germination processes, providing insights into bacterial survival strategies in harsh environments. One of the most interesting aspects of B. atrophaeus is its use in biological research and applications. It is often employed as a non-pathogenic surrogate for Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, in laboratory studies. This allows researchers to safely investigate the properties and behaviors of spore-forming bacteria without the associated risks of working with pathogenic strains. Additionally, B. atrophaeus has been utilized in various biotechnological applications, including the production of enzymes and biopolymers. Its ability to thrive in diverse environments makes it a valuable organism for bioremediation efforts, where it can help degrade pollutants in contaminated sites. Furthermore, the genetic and metabolic pathways of B. atrophaeus are of significant interest in the field of microbiology. Researchers are exploring its potential in the development of novel antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents, given its unique biochemical properties. The study of this organism contributes to our understanding of microbial ecology and the evolutionary adaptations that allow bacteria to thrive in a wide range of habitats. In summary, Bacillus atrophaeus stands out not only for its remarkable survival mechanisms but also for its contributions to scientific research and biotechnological innovations, making it a valuable organism in both academic and industrial settings.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Bacillota

Class: Bacilli

Order: Bacillales

Family: Bacillaceae

Genus: Bacillus

Species: Bacillus atrophaeus

NCBI ID

1452

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/002/243/495/GCF_002243495.1_ASM224349v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_002243495.1_ASM224349v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The bacterium Bacillus atrophaeus is a spore-forming, Gram-positive organism that is primarily known for its role in laboratory settings and its implications in biodefense. It is closely related to the more pathogenic Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, but B. atrophaeus is generally considered non-pathogenic to humans. However, it has been studied for its potential pathogenicity in immunocompromised individuals, where it may cause opportunistic infections, particularly in cases of contamination or exposure to its spores. Clinical relevance of B. atrophaeus includes its use as a biological indicator for sterilization processes, particularly in healthcare settings. Its spores are highly resistant to heat and chemicals, making it an ideal organism for testing the efficacy of sterilization methods. This characteristic underscores its importance in ensuring the safety of medical instruments and environments. In terms of antimicrobial resistance, B. atrophaeus does not exhibit significant resistance mechanisms that are clinically relevant, but its close relation to other Bacillus species necessitates caution in the context of antibiotic use and resistance monitoring. Furthermore, B. atrophaeus has been explored for its potential applications in probiotics and bioremediation, although these applications are still under investigation. Its ability to form spores allows it to survive in harsh environments, which could be beneficial in various biotechnological applications. Overall, while B. atrophaeus is not a primary pathogen, its role in infection control, biodefense, and potential therapeutic applications highlights its significance in clinical microbiology and public health.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Bacillus atrophaeus is a versatile bacterium commonly found in a variety of habitat types, particularly in soil and aerosol environments. This organism thrives in terrestrial ecosystems, where it plays a significant role in nutrient cycling and soil health. Its ability to form endospores allows it to withstand extreme conditions, including high temperatures and desiccation, making it well-adapted to arid environments and disturbed soils. In the soil biome, Bacillus atrophaeus contributes to the decomposition of organic matter, enhancing soil fertility and structure. It engages in symbiotic relationships with plants, promoting growth through the production of plant growth-promoting substances. This interaction is particularly beneficial in nutrient-poor soils, where the bacterium can help plants access essential nutrients. Additionally, Bacillus atrophaeus is often found in aerosolized particles, where it can be transported over long distances. This characteristic allows it to colonize new environments and contribute to the microbial diversity of various ecosystems. Its presence in aerosols also highlights its potential role in biogeochemical cycles, particularly in the cycling of carbon and nitrogen. Overall, Bacillus atrophaeus is an important microorganism in both terrestrial and atmospheric biomes, showcasing its adaptability and ecological significance.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Bacillus atrophaeus has several notable industrial applications across various sectors. One of the primary uses of Bacillus atrophaeus is in biotechnology, particularly in the production of enzymes. This organism is known for its ability to produce a range of enzymes, including proteases and amylases, which are essential in processes such as fermentation and food processing. These enzymes can enhance the efficiency of starch breakdown and protein digestion, making them valuable in the food industry. In the realm of waste management, Bacillus atrophaeus has been utilized for its biodegradation capabilities. It can effectively break down organic waste materials, contributing to the composting process and improving soil health. This biodegradation process is crucial for reducing landfill waste and promoting sustainable waste management practices. Furthermore, Bacillus atrophaeus is also explored in biofuel production. Its metabolic pathways can be harnessed to convert biomass into biofuels through fermentation, making it a potential candidate for sustainable energy solutions. The ability to utilize various substrates for fermentation enhances its applicability in biofuel technologies. In pharmaceutical development, Bacillus atrophaeus is studied for its potential in producing antimicrobial compounds. Its natural ability to produce antibiotics can be leveraged in the development of new pharmaceuticals, particularly in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Overall, Bacillus atrophaeus demonstrates significant potential across multiple industries, particularly in biotechnology, waste management, biofuel production, and pharmaceutical development, showcasing its versatility and importance in industrial 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: 9

LLM predicted phenotypes: 4

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