Mycobacterium simiae

General Information

Mycobacterium simiae is a species of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) that has garnered attention due to its unique characteristics and implications in both environmental and clinical settings. This microorganism was first isolated from rhesus monkeys, which is reflected in its name, simiae. One of the most intriguing aspects of M. simiae is its ability to thrive in diverse environments, including natural water sources and soil, which makes it a subject of interest for environmental microbiologists studying microbial ecology and waterborne pathogens. Clinically, M. simiae is notable for its association with pulmonary infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with HIV/AIDS or undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. This has led to increased research into its pathogenic mechanisms and potential treatment strategies. Unlike some other mycobacteria, M. simiae infections can be challenging to diagnose and treat due to its intrinsic resistance to many common antibiotics, necessitating the development of specialized therapeutic approaches. From a genetic perspective, M. simiae is interesting due to its complex genome, which provides insights into the evolutionary adaptations that allow it to survive in both environmental and host-associated niches. Studies on its genome have revealed genes that may contribute to its virulence, antibiotic resistance, and environmental resilience, making it a valuable model for understanding mycobacterial biology. In summary, Mycobacterium simiae is a fascinating organism due to its environmental versatility, clinical significance, and genetic complexity. Its study not only enhances our understanding of mycobacterial diseases but also contributes to broader insights into microbial ecology and evolution.

Mycobacterium simiae is a species of the genus Mycobacterium that has garnered interest due to its unique ecological niche and potential implications in human health. This organism is primarily found in environmental sources, particularly in soil and water, which makes it an intriguing subject for studies on environmental microbiology and ecology. Its ability to survive in diverse habitats highlights its adaptability and resilience. One of the most notable aspects of M. simiae is its genetic diversity, which can provide insights into the evolutionary mechanisms of mycobacteria. Research has shown that this species exhibits a range of genetic variations that may influence its pathogenic potential and resistance to antibiotics. This characteristic makes it a valuable model for studying the genetic basis of virulence and antibiotic resistance in mycobacterial species. Furthermore, M. simiae has been associated with opportunistic infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. This association raises important questions about its role in human disease and the need for further research into its pathogenic mechanisms. Understanding how M. simiae interacts with the host immune system could lead to advancements in treatment strategies for mycobacterial infections. In summary, Mycobacterium simiae stands out due to its ecological versatility, genetic diversity, and potential implications for human health, making it a significant subject for ongoing research in microbiology and infectious diseases.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Actinomycetota

Class: Actinomycetes

Order: Mycobacteriales

Family: Mycobacteriaceae

Genus: Mycobacterium

Species: Mycobacterium simiae

NCBI ID

1784

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/010/727/605/GCA_010727605.1_ASM1072760v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_010727605.1_ASM1072760v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Mycobacterium simiae is a member of the Mycobacterium genus, which includes several species known for their clinical significance. While M. simiae is less commonly associated with human disease compared to its more notorious relatives like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, it has been implicated in certain clinical scenarios, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Clinical implications of M. simiae include its potential role in pulmonary infections, especially in individuals with underlying lung conditions or those with weakened immune systems. There have been documented cases of pulmonary disease caused by this organism, which can mimic the symptoms of tuberculosis, leading to diagnostic challenges. In terms of pathogenicity, M. simiae exhibits characteristics similar to other non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), including the ability to survive in macrophages and evade the immune response. This ability to resist phagocytosis and persist within host cells is a key factor in its pathogenic potential. Furthermore, the organism has shown varying degrees of antimicrobial resistance, complicating treatment options for infections it may cause. Resistance to first-line antitubercular drugs has been noted, which underscores the importance of susceptibility testing in clinical settings. While M. simiae is not typically used in medical applications like probiotics or vaccines, its presence in clinical specimens necessitates careful consideration in the context of diagnosis and treatment of mycobacterial infections. Awareness of this organism is crucial for healthcare providers, particularly in regions where it may be endemic or in patients with risk factors for NTM infections.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Mycobacterium simiae is a species of bacteria that is primarily associated with tropical and subtropical environments. This microorganism is often found in soil and water habitats, particularly in regions with high humidity and organic matter. Its ecological niche is characterized by its ability to thrive in environments rich in decaying plant material, which provides essential nutrients for its growth. Soil Biomes: In soil ecosystems, M. simiae plays a significant role in the decomposition process. It contributes to the breakdown of complex organic compounds, thereby facilitating nutrient cycling. This bacterium is known to form symbiotic relationships with various soil organisms, enhancing soil fertility and structure. Aquatic Environments: Mycobacterium simiae can also be isolated from freshwater systems, where it may interact with other microbial communities. In these aquatic habitats, it can contribute to the microbial loop, influencing nutrient availability and energy flow within the ecosystem. The adaptability of M. simiae to different environmental conditions, including its resistance to various stressors, allows it to occupy diverse ecological niches. Its presence in these biomes underscores its importance in maintaining ecological balance and promoting biodiversity. Overall, M. simiae exemplifies the intricate relationships that microorganisms have with their environments, highlighting their essential roles in ecosystem functioning.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Mycobacterium simiae has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and waste management. This organism is known for its ability to degrade complex organic compounds, making it a candidate for biodegradation processes in contaminated environments. Its enzymatic activity can facilitate the breakdown of pollutants, thus contributing to effective waste treatment solutions. In the realm of biofuel production, Mycobacterium simiae may play a role in the fermentation of biomass, where it can help convert organic materials into biofuels through fermentation processes. This capability is particularly valuable in the development of sustainable energy sources, as it can aid in the conversion of agricultural waste into usable fuel. Moreover, there is ongoing research into the pharmaceutical development potential of Mycobacterium simiae. Its unique metabolic pathways may lead to the discovery of novel compounds that could be utilized in drug formulation, particularly in the treatment of infectious diseases. The organism's ability to produce specific metabolites through enzyme production could be harnessed for the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates. Overall, Mycobacterium simiae presents a promising avenue for innovation in biotechnology, waste management, biofuel production, and pharmaceutical development, with its capabilities in biodegradation, fermentation, and enzyme production being particularly noteworthy.

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

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