Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes

General Information

Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes is a fascinating microorganism belonging to the genus Mycolicibacterium. This species is particularly notable for its role in veterinary medicine, as it is a known pathogen responsible for bovine farcy, a chronic granulomatous disease affecting cattle. Bovine farcy is characterized by the formation of nodules and ulcers, primarily on the skin and lymph nodes, which can lead to significant economic losses in the livestock industry. One of the most intriguing aspects of M. farcinogenes is its complex cell wall structure, which contains mycolic acids. These long-chain fatty acids contribute to the organism's resistance to desiccation and chemical damage, making it a resilient pathogen in various environmental conditions. The presence of mycolic acids also plays a crucial role in the organism's ability to evade the host immune system, contributing to its pathogenicity. From a research perspective, M. farcinogenes is valuable for studying the mechanisms of chronic infection and host-pathogen interactions. Its ability to persist in the host for extended periods without causing immediate death provides a model for understanding chronic diseases and the immune responses they elicit. Additionally, the study of M. farcinogenes can offer insights into the development of new antimicrobial therapies, particularly those targeting mycolic acid synthesis and cell wall integrity. In summary, Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes is a microorganism of significant interest due to its role in veterinary disease, its unique cell wall composition, and its potential to advance our understanding of chronic infections and antimicrobial resistance.

Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes is a notable member of the genus Mycolicibacterium, which is recognized for its unique lipid composition, particularly the presence of mycolic acids. This organism is primarily known for its role in causing farcy, a chronic disease affecting horses and other animals, which highlights its veterinary significance. The ability of M. farcinogenes to survive in harsh environments and its resilience against various antimicrobial agents make it a subject of interest in both veterinary and microbiological research. One of the most intriguing aspects of M. farcinogenes is its complex cell wall structure, which is rich in mycolic acids. This characteristic not only contributes to its pathogenicity but also makes it a valuable model for studying the biosynthesis of mycolic acids and their implications in microbial virulence. Research into the metabolic pathways of M. farcinogenes could provide insights into potential therapeutic targets for treating infections caused by related mycobacterial species. Furthermore, the organism's ecological role and its interactions with host immune systems present opportunities for exploring host-pathogen dynamics. Understanding how M. farcinogenes evades immune responses can shed light on broader mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis. This research could have implications for developing vaccines or treatments not only for equine diseases but also for other mycobacterial infections in humans and animals. In summary, Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes stands out due to its pathogenic potential, unique biochemical properties, and the implications of its study for both veterinary medicine and broader microbiological research.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Actinomycetota

Class: Actinomycetes

Order: Mycobacteriales

Family: Mycobacteriaceae

Genus: Mycolicibacterium

Species: Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes

NCBI ID

1802

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/019/739/075/GCA_019739075.1_ASM1973907v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_019739075.1_ASM1973907v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes is a significant pathogen known for its role in causing farcin in cattle, a chronic granulomatous disease that can lead to severe economic losses in the livestock industry. This bacterium is part of the larger group of mycobacteria, which are characterized by their complex cell wall structure containing mycolic acids, contributing to their pathogenicity and resistance to environmental stresses. In humans, M. farcinogenes has been associated with rare cases of infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, although it is not a common human pathogen. The clinical implications of M. farcinogenes extend to its potential for antimicrobial resistance, as it exhibits resistance to several common antibiotics, complicating treatment options. Understanding its mechanisms of immune evasion is crucial, as it can survive within macrophages, thereby avoiding detection and destruction by the host's immune system. While there are no widely recognized medical applications of M. farcinogenes in terms of probiotics or vaccines, its study contributes to the broader understanding of mycobacterial diseases and the development of therapeutic strategies against related pathogens. The organism's involvement in outbreaks, particularly in agricultural settings, underscores the importance of monitoring and controlling its spread to prevent zoonotic transmission and protect both animal and human health.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes is primarily associated with terrestrial environments and is notably found in the soil and decaying organic matter of various ecosystems. This microorganism thrives in environments rich in organic material, where it plays a crucial role in the decomposition process. Its ability to degrade complex organic compounds contributes to nutrient cycling within these biomes, making it an essential player in maintaining soil health and fertility. In addition to its role in decomposition, Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes is known for its interactions with other microorganisms, often engaging in symbiotic relationships that enhance its survival and metabolic capabilities. These interactions can include mutualism with other soil bacteria, where both organisms benefit from the exchange of nutrients and metabolic byproducts. Furthermore, this microorganism exhibits remarkable environmental adaptability, allowing it to thrive in varying conditions, including those with limited nutrients or fluctuating moisture levels. Its resilience contributes to its presence in diverse habitats, from grasslands to forests, where it can be found in the rhizosphere, interacting with plant roots and contributing to plant health through nutrient mobilization. Overall, Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes is a vital component of its ecological niche, influencing both the microbial community dynamics and the overall health of the soil ecosystem.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and waste management. This organism is known for its role in biodegradation, where it can break down complex organic compounds, making it valuable in the treatment of contaminated environments. Its ability to degrade pollutants can be harnessed in waste treatment processes, helping to mitigate the impact of industrial waste on ecosystems. In the realm of biofuel production, Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes may contribute to the conversion of biomass into biofuels through fermentation processes. This can involve the breakdown of lignocellulosic materials, which are abundant and renewable resources, into fermentable sugars that can subsequently be converted into ethanol or other biofuels. Additionally, there is potential for this microorganism in pharmaceutical development, particularly in the production of bioactive compounds. Its unique metabolic pathways may lead to the discovery of novel antibiotics or other therapeutic agents, which can be explored through enzyme production and other biotechnological methods. Overall, Mycolicibacterium farcinogenes represents a promising candidate for various industrial applications, particularly in the sustainable management of waste and the development of renewable energy sources.

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/gemma-7b-it	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	google/gemini-flash-1.5	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	openchat/openchat-7b	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	google/gemini-pro	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	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	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
Motility	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 ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Gram staining	gram stain positive	gram stain negative ✗	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain negative ✗	gram stain variable ✗	gram stain negative ✗	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain negative ✗	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	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	N/A	true	false	false	false	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true
Biofilm formation	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true
Animal pathogenicity	TRUE	false ✗	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 ✓
Biosafety level	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 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 ✓
Health association	N/A	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
Host association	TRUE	false ✗	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 ✓	false ✓
Spore formation	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗
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	alpha	alpha
Cell shape	bacillus	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	coccus ✗	coccus ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓

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