Rhodococcus phenolicus

General Information

Rhodococcus phenolicus is a fascinating microorganism known for its remarkable ability to degrade phenolic compounds, which are toxic pollutants commonly found in industrial waste. This capability makes R. phenolicus particularly valuable in the field of bioremediation, where it can be employed to clean up contaminated environments. One of the most interesting aspects of R. phenolicus is its metabolic versatility. It can utilize a wide range of aromatic compounds as carbon and energy sources, which is facilitated by its diverse set of catabolic enzymes. This metabolic flexibility not only underscores its ecological importance but also highlights its potential in various biotechnological applications. Moreover, R. phenolicus has been studied for its unique genetic and enzymatic pathways involved in the breakdown of phenolic substances. These pathways are of significant interest to researchers aiming to engineer more efficient biocatalysts for environmental and industrial processes. In addition to its bioremediation potential, R. phenolicus is also noted for its robust nature, allowing it to thrive in harsh conditions where other microorganisms might not survive. This resilience further enhances its applicability in real-world environmental cleanup efforts. Overall, Rhodococcus phenolicus stands out as a key player in environmental biotechnology, offering promising solutions for mitigating pollution and advancing sustainable practices.

Rhodococcus phenolicus is a fascinating bacterium known for its remarkable ability to degrade a variety of aromatic compounds, particularly phenolic compounds. This characteristic makes it a valuable organism in bioremediation efforts, especially in environments contaminated with industrial waste. Its metabolic versatility allows it to utilize these compounds as carbon sources, which is not common among many other microorganisms. One of the unique features of Rhodococcus phenolicus is its capacity to thrive in harsh environments, including those with high concentrations of toxic substances. This resilience is attributed to its robust enzymatic systems that facilitate the breakdown of complex organic pollutants. The presence of specialized enzymes, such as dioxygenases and monooxygenases, enables this bacterium to initiate the degradation of phenolic compounds, leading to their complete mineralization. Additionally, Rhodococcus phenolicus has garnered interest in the field of synthetic biology due to its potential applications in the production of valuable biochemicals. Researchers are exploring its metabolic pathways to engineer strains that can produce biofuels or other industrially relevant compounds from waste materials. This aspect of Rhodococcus phenolicus highlights its dual role as both a bioremediation agent and a platform for biotechnological innovation. Furthermore, studies on Rhodococcus phenolicus contribute to our understanding of microbial ecology in contaminated environments, shedding light on how microorganisms adapt and evolve in response to anthropogenic pressures. This knowledge is crucial for developing effective strategies for environmental cleanup and sustainability. Overall, Rhodococcus phenolicus stands out as a model organism for research in biodegradation, environmental microbiology, and biotechnological applications.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Actinomycetota

Class: Actinomycetes

Order: Mycobacteriales

Family: Nocardiaceae

Genus: Rhodococcus

Species: Rhodococcus phenolicus

NCBI ID

263849

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/001/646/785/GCF_001646785.1_ASM164678v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_001646785.1_ASM164678v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The microorganism Rhodococcus phenolicus is a member of the genus Rhodococcus, which is known for its ability to degrade a variety of organic compounds, including phenolic compounds. While Rhodococcus phenolicus is primarily recognized for its environmental significance, its clinical implications are becoming increasingly relevant. This organism has been associated with infections in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with underlying conditions such as cancer or chronic lung disease. Pulmonary infections caused by Rhodococcus phenolicus can occur, leading to symptoms such as cough, fever, and difficulty breathing. In terms of pathogenicity, Rhodococcus phenolicus exhibits several mechanisms that may contribute to its ability to cause disease. It can form biofilms, which enhance its survival in hostile environments and contribute to its virulence. Additionally, this organism has shown the capacity for immune evasion, allowing it to persist in the host despite the presence of an active immune response. Antimicrobial resistance is a significant concern with Rhodococcus phenolicus, as it has demonstrated resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, complicating treatment options for infections. This resistance is often attributed to its ability to acquire resistance genes from other bacteria, highlighting the importance of monitoring and understanding its resistance mechanisms. While Rhodococcus phenolicus is not commonly used in medical applications, its relatives in the Rhodococcus genus are being explored for potential therapeutic uses, such as in the development of probiotics or bioremediation strategies. However, further research is needed to fully elucidate the clinical relevance and potential applications of Rhodococcus phenolicus in human health.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Rhodococcus phenolicus is a versatile bacterium commonly found in a variety of terrestrial environments and aquatic ecosystems. This microorganism thrives particularly in polluted soils and wastewater treatment facilities, where it plays a crucial role in the biodegradation of aromatic compounds, including phenols and other toxic substances. Its ability to metabolize these compounds makes it an important player in bioremediation efforts, helping to restore contaminated environments by breaking down harmful pollutants into less toxic forms. In addition to its role in biodegradation, Rhodococcus phenolicus exhibits notable interactions with its surroundings. It can form symbiotic relationships with plants, enhancing their growth by improving soil health and nutrient availability. This bacterium is also known for its adaptability to various environmental conditions, allowing it to survive in extreme environments such as high salinity or varying pH levels. Overall, Rhodococcus phenolicus is a key organism in ecosystem functioning, contributing to nutrient cycling and the maintenance of ecological balance in the habitats it occupies.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Rhodococcus phenolicus has shown significant potential in various industrial applications due to its unique metabolic capabilities. One of the most notable areas is in biotechnology, where Rhodococcus phenolicus is utilized for its ability to degrade aromatic compounds, making it valuable in biodegradation processes. This characteristic is particularly useful in the treatment of industrial waste containing phenolic compounds, which are often toxic and persistent in the environment. In the realm of waste management, Rhodococcus phenolicus can be employed in bioremediation strategies to clean up contaminated sites, effectively breaking down pollutants and restoring ecological balance. Its enzymatic activity allows it to metabolize a variety of complex organic compounds, which can be harnessed to improve waste treatment efficiency. Furthermore, this microorganism has applications in biofuel production. It can be involved in fermentation processes that convert biomass into biofuels, particularly through the breakdown of lignocellulosic materials. The ability of Rhodococcus phenolicus to utilize diverse substrates enhances the yield of biofuels, making it a promising candidate for sustainable energy solutions. In pharmaceutical development, the metabolic pathways of Rhodococcus phenolicus can be exploited for the synthesis of valuable compounds, including antibiotics and other bioactive molecules. Its capacity to produce specific enzymes can facilitate the development of novel pharmaceuticals through enzyme production processes. Overall, Rhodococcus phenolicus stands out as a versatile microorganism with a wide range of applications across biotechnology, waste management, biofuel production, and pharmaceutical development, showcasing its importance in advancing industrial processes and environmental sustainability.

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

Back to Search