Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae

General Information

Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae is a fascinating microorganism that has garnered attention due to its unique ecological niche and potential applications in biotechnology. This bacterium was originally isolated from the pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea, which is known for its carnivorous nature. The association with such a specialized plant environment suggests that M. sarraceniae may possess unique metabolic capabilities that allow it to thrive in nutrient-poor, acidic conditions. One of the most intriguing aspects of Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae is its potential for bioremediation. The bacterium has shown promise in degrading complex organic compounds, which could be harnessed for cleaning up environmental pollutants. This capability is particularly valuable given the increasing concern over environmental contamination and the need for sustainable solutions. Additionally, M. sarraceniae is part of the broader group of mycolic acid-containing bacteria, which are known for their complex and robust cell wall structures. This feature not only contributes to their resilience in harsh environments but also makes them interesting subjects for studying cell wall biosynthesis and antibiotic resistance mechanisms. From a research perspective, the study of Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae can provide insights into microbial adaptation to extreme environments, symbiotic relationships with plants, and novel pathways for the degradation of organic materials. These characteristics make M. sarraceniae a valuable organism for both basic and applied microbiological research.

Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae is a fascinating species of actinobacteria that was first isolated from the Sarracenia genus of carnivorous plants, specifically the pitcher plant. This unique habitat contributes to its intriguing ecological role and adaptations. One of the most notable characteristics of M. sarraceniae is its ability to thrive in nutrient-poor environments, which is a common trait among microorganisms associated with carnivorous plants. This adaptation allows it to utilize organic compounds derived from the decomposition of trapped prey, showcasing a remarkable example of symbiosis in nature. The organism is also of interest due to its potential applications in biotechnology and environmental science. Research has indicated that M. sarraceniae may possess unique metabolic pathways that could be harnessed for bioremediation purposes, particularly in the breakdown of complex organic pollutants. Furthermore, its genetic and biochemical properties are being studied for their implications in antibiotic production, as many actinobacteria are known for their ability to produce bioactive compounds. In addition to its ecological and biotechnological significance, M. sarraceniae serves as a model organism for studying the evolutionary adaptations of microorganisms in extreme environments. The evolutionary pressures faced by this bacterium in the nutrient-limited conditions of its natural habitat provide insights into microbial survival strategies and community dynamics. Overall, Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae stands out as a valuable organism for research, with implications that extend from ecology to biotechnology.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Actinomycetota

Class: Actinomycetes

Order: Mycobacteriales

Family: Mycobacteriaceae

Genus: Mycolicibacterium

Species: Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae

NCBI ID

1534348

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/010/731/875/GCA_010731875.1_ASM1073187v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_010731875.1_ASM1073187v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae is a member of the genus Mycolicibacterium, which is known for its complex lipid composition and potential pathogenicity. This microorganism has been associated with various clinical implications, particularly in the context of infections and immune response mechanisms. Clinical relevance includes its role in opportunistic infections, especially in immunocompromised patients, where it can lead to pulmonary infections and other systemic diseases. The organism's ability to evade the immune response is attributed to its unique cell wall structure, which contains mycolic acids that can inhibit phagocytosis and modulate host immune responses. Furthermore, Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae has been studied for its potential antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, which may complicate treatment options. The presence of this organism in clinical specimens raises concerns about its identification and differentiation from other mycobacterial species, which can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment. While there is limited information on specific outbreaks associated with Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae, its detection in clinical settings underscores the importance of ongoing surveillance and research to better understand its pathogenic potential and to develop effective therapeutic strategies. Overall, the clinical implications of Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae highlight the need for awareness among healthcare professionals regarding its role in human health and disease.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae is a species of bacterium that is primarily associated with wetland ecosystems, particularly in the vicinity of Sarracenia plants, commonly known as pitcher plants. This organism thrives in nutrient-poor, acidic soils that are characteristic of these habitats, where it plays a significant role in the decomposition of organic matter and nutrient cycling. Wetland environments provide a unique ecological niche for _Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae, as they are often rich in organic material from decaying plant matter. The bacterium contributes to the breakdown of this material, facilitating the release of nutrients that are essential for the growth of the surrounding flora. This process is crucial in maintaining the health of the ecosystem, as it supports the growth of both the pitcher plants and other associated species. In addition to its role in decomposition, _Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae may also engage in symbiotic relationships with the pitcher plants. These plants are known for their unique adaptations to nutrient-poor environments, and the presence of this bacterium could enhance their ability to absorb nutrients from the soil and the surrounding environment. This symbiosis highlights the intricate connections within the wetland biome, where various organisms interact to sustain the ecosystem. Overall, _Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae exemplifies the importance of microbial life in wetland habitats, showcasing how microorganisms contribute to ecological balance and the health of their environments.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology, waste management, and pharmaceutical development. This organism is notable for its ability to participate in biodegradation processes, which can be harnessed for the breakdown of complex organic materials in waste treatment facilities. By utilizing its enzymatic activity, Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae can effectively degrade pollutants, contributing to cleaner environments and more efficient waste management systems. In the realm of biofuel production, Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae may play a role in the fermentation of biomass, converting organic matter into biofuels through fermentation processes. This capability not only aids in renewable energy production but also supports sustainable practices by utilizing waste materials as feedstock. Furthermore, the unique metabolic pathways of Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae can be explored for pharmaceutical development, particularly in the synthesis of bioactive compounds. The organism's ability to produce specific metabolites may lead to the discovery of new drugs or therapeutic agents, showcasing its potential in the pharmaceutical industry. Overall, Mycolicibacterium sarraceniae represents a promising candidate for various industrial applications, particularly in biodegradation, biofuel production, and pharmaceutical development, making it a valuable organism in the pursuit of sustainable and innovative industrial solutions.

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-pro	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/gemini-pro-1.5	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	google/gemini-flash-1.5	google/gemini-flash-1.5	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	google/gemma-7b-it	google/gemma-7b-it	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	openchat/openchat-7b	openchat/openchat-7b	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct
Motility	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	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 variable ✗	gram stain negative ✗	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 negative ✗	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✗
Aerophilicity	aerobic	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	N/A	false	false	false	true	true	true	false	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true
Biofilm formation	N/A	true	true	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true
Animal pathogenicity	TRUE	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	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 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	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 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓
Health association	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	false	false	false	false
Host association	TRUE	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗
Plant pathogenicity	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Spore formation	FALSE	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Hemolysis	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	alpha	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 ✓	coccus ✗	coccus ✗	coccus ✗	coccus ✗

Back to Search