Campylobacter vulpis

General Information

Campylobacter vulpis is a relatively recent addition to the Campylobacter genus, which is known for its significance in both veterinary and human medicine. What makes C. vulpis particularly interesting is its association with canines, as it has been primarily isolated from the feces of domestic dogs. This association suggests a potential zoonotic risk, meaning it could be transmitted from animals to humans, which is a critical area of study for public health. One of the unique aspects of C. vulpis is its genetic makeup, which shows distinct differences from other Campylobacter species. This genetic distinction can provide insights into the evolutionary pathways and adaptations that have allowed this species to colonize and thrive in the canine gastrointestinal tract. Understanding these genetic differences can help in developing targeted diagnostic tools and treatments. From a research perspective, C. vulpis is valuable because it can serve as a model organism for studying host-pathogen interactions in the context of the canine gut microbiome. This can lead to broader implications for understanding gastrointestinal diseases in both animals and humans. Additionally, studying C. vulpis can contribute to the development of better strategies for managing and preventing zoonotic infections, which are increasingly important in our interconnected world. In summary, Campylobacter vulpis stands out due to its unique host association, genetic distinctiveness, and potential zoonotic implications, making it a significant subject of study in microbiology and public health.

Campylobacter vulpis is a fascinating bacterium primarily associated with the gastrointestinal tract of canines, particularly foxes. This organism is notable for its curved, spiral shape, which is characteristic of the Campylobacter genus, and it thrives in microaerophilic conditions, requiring lower levels of oxygen than are present in the atmosphere. Its unique adaptation to the intestinal environment of carnivorous mammals makes it an interesting subject for studying host-pathogen interactions and the evolution of gastrointestinal microbiota. One of the most compelling aspects of C. vulpis is its role in the ecology of wild canids. It is believed to play a part in the maintenance of gut health in these animals, potentially influencing their immune responses and overall well-being. This relationship opens avenues for research into how gut microbiota can affect health in both wild and domestic animals. From a research perspective, Campylobacter vulpis is valuable for understanding zoonotic transmission and the dynamics of bacterial infections in wildlife. Its presence in foxes and potential transmission to domestic dogs raises important questions about the interconnectedness of wildlife and domestic animal health. Furthermore, studying this organism can provide insights into the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, as Campylobacter species are known for their ability to acquire resistance genes, which is a growing concern in veterinary and human medicine. In summary, Campylobacter vulpis stands out not only for its unique ecological niche but also for its implications in veterinary health, zoonotic disease transmission, and antibiotic resistance research, making it a significant organism in the field of microbiology.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Campylobacterota

Class: Epsilonproteobacteria

Order: Campylobacterales

Family: Campylobacteraceae

Genus: Campylobacter

Species: Campylobacter vulpis

NCBI ID

1655500

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/014/217/995/GCA_014217995.1_ASM1421799v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_014217995.1_ASM1421799v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Campylobacter vulpis is a lesser-known species within the Campylobacter genus, primarily associated with gastrointestinal infections in canines. While its clinical implications in humans are not as extensively documented as those of Campylobacter jejuni, there are emerging concerns regarding its potential role in zoonotic transmission. Infections caused by Campylobacter vulpis can lead to gastroenteritis, characterized by symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever, particularly in immunocompromised individuals or those with underlying health conditions. The pathogenicity of Campylobacter vulpis is attributed to its ability to adhere to and invade intestinal epithelial cells, evading the host's immune response through various mechanisms, including the secretion of virulence factors that disrupt normal cellular functions. Antimicrobial resistance is a significant concern, as some strains may exhibit resistance to commonly used antibiotics, complicating treatment options for affected individuals. While research is still ongoing, the potential for Campylobacter vulpis to act as a reservoir for antibiotic-resistant genes poses a risk for public health, particularly in settings where humans and animals interact closely. Understanding the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of this organism is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies and therapeutic interventions. Currently, there are no specific vaccines or probiotics targeting Campylobacter vulpis, but its study may contribute to broader insights into Campylobacter-related diseases and their management.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Campylobacter vulpis is primarily associated with the gastrointestinal tract of canines, particularly domestic dogs and wild canids. This microorganism thrives in the microaerophilic environment of the intestines, where it plays a significant role in the digestion process. Its presence is often linked to the breakdown of complex carbohydrates and proteins, contributing to the overall health of the host's gut microbiome. In terms of ecological niches, Campylobacter vulpis is commonly found in areas where canids congregate, such as urban parks, dog parks, and wildlife habitats. The organism can also be isolated from fecal matter, which serves as a reservoir for its transmission among canine populations. Notably, Campylobacter vulpis can interact with other gut microbiota, influencing the microbial community structure and potentially affecting the host's immune response. This interaction can lead to symbiotic relationships where the presence of Campylobacter vulpis may help in nutrient absorption while also posing a risk of gastrointestinal diseases if the balance is disrupted. Furthermore, this microorganism exhibits adaptations to its environment, such as the ability to withstand varying pH levels and temperatures found in the canine gut. Its survival strategies include motility, which allows it to navigate through the viscous intestinal mucus, enhancing its colonization potential. Overall, Campylobacter vulpis is a significant player in the canine gastrointestinal biome, influencing both the health of its host and the dynamics of microbial communities within this specialized habitat.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Campylobacter vulpis has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and waste management. This organism is primarily known for its role in the gastrointestinal tracts of animals, but its unique metabolic capabilities can be harnessed for several beneficial processes. In biotechnology, Campylobacter vulpis can be utilized in fermentation processes, where it may contribute to the production of specific metabolites that can be valuable in food and feed industries. Its ability to thrive in microaerophilic conditions allows it to be explored for the development of novel fermentation techniques that could enhance the yield of certain products. In the realm of waste management, Campylobacter vulpis has potential applications in biodegradation processes. It can be involved in the breakdown of organic waste materials, contributing to the reduction of waste volume and the recycling of nutrients back into the ecosystem. This capability is particularly important in the treatment of animal waste, where the organism can help mitigate environmental impacts. Furthermore, there is ongoing research into the pharmaceutical development aspects of Campylobacter vulpis. Its unique biochemical pathways may lead to the discovery of new antimicrobial compounds or other bioactive substances that could be beneficial in medical applications. Overall, while Campylobacter vulpis is primarily recognized for its role in animal health, its potential in biotechnology, waste management, and pharmaceutical development highlights the importance of further research into its 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: 10

LLM predicted phenotypes: 3

Phenotype	High-quality annotation	google/gemini-flash-1.5	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	google/gemini-pro-1.5	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	openchat/openchat-7b	google/gemini-pro	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	google/gemma-7b-it	google/gemma-7b-it	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	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 ✓	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 ✓	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 ✓	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 ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓
Aerophilicity	aerobic	N/A	anaerobic ✗	anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	aerotolerant ✗	aerotolerant ✗	N/A	N/A	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	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 ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Animal pathogenicity	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 ✓
Biosafety level	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 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 3 ✗	biosafety level 3 ✗
Health association	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	true
Host association	TRUE	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 ✓	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	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 ✓
Hemolysis	N/A	gamma	N/A	N/A	beta	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	beta	beta	N/A	N/A	beta	beta	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	spirillum	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	coccus ✗	N/A	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	coccus ✗	coccus ✗	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗

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