Epilithonimonas vandammei

General Information

Epilithonimonas vandammei is a fascinating microorganism that belongs to the genus Epilithonimonas. This bacterium is particularly interesting due to its unique ecological niche and potential applications in biotechnology. One of the most notable characteristics of E. vandammei is its ability to thrive in extreme environments, such as high-salinity habitats. This makes it a valuable subject for studying mechanisms of salt tolerance and osmoregulation, which can have broader implications for understanding how life can adapt to harsh conditions. Additionally, E. vandammei has been found to produce a variety of bioactive compounds. These compounds have potential applications in pharmaceuticals, particularly as antimicrobial agents. The exploration of these bioactive substances could lead to the development of new drugs and therapies, addressing the growing issue of antibiotic resistance. From a biotechnological perspective, E. vandammei is also of interest due to its potential in bioremediation. Its ability to survive and function in polluted environments suggests that it could be used to clean up contaminated sites, particularly those with high levels of salinity or other extreme conditions. In summary, Epilithonimonas vandammei is a microorganism of significant interest due to its extreme environment adaptability, production of bioactive compounds, and potential applications in bioremediation. These characteristics make it a valuable subject for ongoing research in various scientific fields.

Epilithonimonas vandammei is a fascinating member of the microbial world, belonging to the family of bacteria that thrive in unique ecological niches. This organism is particularly interesting due to its ability to inhabit epilithic environments, which are surfaces of rocks in freshwater ecosystems. Its ecological role is significant as it contributes to the biofilm communities that form on these surfaces, playing a crucial part in nutrient cycling and the overall health of aquatic ecosystems. One of the unique characteristics of E. vandammei is its metabolic versatility, allowing it to utilize a variety of organic compounds as carbon sources. This adaptability not only aids in its survival in fluctuating environmental conditions but also makes it a valuable organism for studies related to biodegradation and bioremediation. Researchers are particularly interested in its potential applications in cleaning up contaminated water bodies, as it may help in breaking down pollutants. Furthermore, E. vandammei has been noted for its genetic diversity, which can provide insights into evolutionary processes among microorganisms. The study of its genome may reveal unique genes that confer specific adaptations to its rocky habitat, making it a subject of interest for evolutionary biologists. In summary, Epilithonimonas vandammei stands out not only for its ecological significance but also for its potential applications in environmental science and biotechnology, making it a valuable organism for ongoing research.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Bacteroidota

Class: Flavobacteriia

Order: Flavobacteriales

Family: Weeksellaceae

Genus: Epilithonimonas

Species: Epilithonimonas vandammei

NCBI ID

2487072

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/003/860/525/GCF_003860525.1_ASM386052v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_003860525.1_ASM386052v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The microorganism Epilithonimonas vandammei is a member of the diverse group of bacteria found in aquatic environments, particularly associated with biofilms on submerged surfaces. While specific clinical implications of Epilithonimonas vandammei are not extensively documented, its presence in biofilms suggests potential roles in infections related to aquatic environments. Biofilm formation is a significant factor in the pathogenicity of many bacteria, as it enhances resistance to antimicrobial agents and contributes to chronic infections. In terms of human health, the interaction of Epilithonimonas vandammei with the human microbiome is not well characterized, but it may play a role in the ecological balance of microbial communities in aquatic settings. The organism's ability to form biofilms could potentially lead to immune evasion strategies, making it more difficult for the host's immune system to clear infections. Currently, there are no known medical applications, such as probiotics or vaccines, directly associated with Epilithonimonas vandammei. However, understanding its ecological role and interactions within biofilms could provide insights into managing infections caused by more pathogenic organisms that share similar habitats. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific clinical relevance and potential pathogenicity of Epilithonimonas vandammei in human health.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Epilithonimonas vandammei is a unique microorganism commonly associated with biofilm communities found on submerged surfaces in freshwater environments. This organism thrives in a variety of aquatic habitats, particularly in streams, rivers, and lakes, where it plays a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of biofilms on rocks and other substrates. These biofilms are essential for nutrient cycling and provide a habitat for other microorganisms, thus contributing to the overall biodiversity of the ecosystem. In its ecological niche, E. vandammei engages in nutrient uptake and decomposition, breaking down organic matter and facilitating the recycling of nutrients back into the water column. This process is vital for maintaining the health of freshwater ecosystems, as it supports primary producers and other trophic levels. Additionally, E. vandammei exhibits notable interactions with its surroundings, including symbiotic relationships with other microorganisms. It can coexist with various algae and bacteria, contributing to the stability and resilience of biofilm communities. The presence of E. vandammei can enhance the overall productivity of these biofilms, making them more effective in capturing nutrients and providing habitat for diverse aquatic life. Overall, Epilithonimonas vandammei is an important player in freshwater biomes, contributing to the ecological balance and health of aquatic environments through its roles in biofilm formation, nutrient cycling, and symbiotic interactions.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Epilithonimonas vandammei has shown potential in various industrial applications primarily due to its unique metabolic capabilities. One of the most notable areas is in biotechnology, where E. vandammei can be utilized in fermentation processes to produce valuable metabolites. This includes the production of organic acids and other biochemicals that can serve as precursors for pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. In the realm of waste management, E. vandammei has demonstrated effectiveness in biodegradation processes, particularly in the breakdown of complex organic materials. This capability can be harnessed for the treatment of wastewater, where the microorganism can help in the removal of pollutants and the recycling of nutrients, thus contributing to more sustainable waste management practices. Furthermore, the organism's enzymatic activity is of interest in biofuel production. By participating in enzyme production, E. vandammei can aid in the conversion of biomass into biofuels, enhancing the efficiency of biofuel generation from renewable resources. This is particularly relevant in the context of developing sustainable energy solutions. In pharmaceutical development, the metabolic products of E. vandammei may have potential therapeutic applications, although this area requires further research to fully elucidate its capabilities. Overall, Epilithonimonas vandammei represents a promising candidate for various industrial processes, particularly in enhancing sustainability and efficiency across multiple sectors.

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: 3

Phenotype	High-quality annotation	google/gemini-pro-1.5	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/gemini-flash-1.5	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	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	openchat/openchat-7b	openchat/openchat-7b	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	google/gemini-pro	google/gemini-pro
Motility	FALSE	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	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	aerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerotolerant ✗	aerotolerant ✗	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	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 ✓	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	N/A	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	true	true
Animal pathogenicity	N/A	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
Biosafety level	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 ✗	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 ✗	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	true	false	true	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false
Host association	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
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	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	N/A
Cell shape	bacillus	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	coccus ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	coccus ✗	coccus ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	spirillum ✗	spirillum ✗	coccus ✗	coccus ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓

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