Clostridium thailandense

General Information

Clostridium thailandense is a fascinating microorganism that has garnered attention due to its unique metabolic capabilities and ecological niche. This bacterium was first isolated from soil in Thailand, which hints at its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. One of the most noteworthy characteristics of C. thailandense is its ability to produce butanol and other solvents through fermentation processes. This trait makes it a subject of interest for biofuel research, as butanol is considered a superior biofuel compared to ethanol due to its higher energy content and lower hygroscopicity. Additionally, Clostridium thailandense exhibits a remarkable ability to degrade complex carbohydrates, including cellulose and hemicellulose. This capability is particularly valuable in the context of biomass conversion, where the breakdown of plant materials into fermentable sugars is a critical step. The enzymes involved in this process are of significant interest for industrial applications, including the production of biofuels and biochemicals. From a phylogenetic perspective, C. thailandense is closely related to other solvent-producing clostridia, yet it possesses distinct genetic and phenotypic traits that set it apart. Its genome has been sequenced, providing insights into the genetic basis of its metabolic pathways and offering potential for genetic engineering to enhance its solvent production capabilities. In summary, Clostridium thailandense is a microorganism of considerable interest due to its solvent production, carbohydrate degradation abilities, and potential applications in biofuel production and industrial biotechnology. Its unique properties make it a valuable subject for ongoing research and development in these fields.

Clostridium thailandense is a fascinating anaerobic bacterium belonging to the genus Clostridium, which is known for its diverse metabolic capabilities and ecological significance. This species was first isolated from human feces, highlighting its potential role in the human gut microbiome. What makes C. thailandense particularly interesting is its ability to ferment a wide range of carbohydrates, producing various short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as metabolic byproducts. These SCFAs, such as butyrate, are crucial for maintaining gut health and have been linked to anti-inflammatory properties and the regulation of immune responses. Another unique aspect of C. thailandense is its potential application in biotechnology. The organism's metabolic pathways can be harnessed for the production of biofuels and biochemicals, making it a valuable candidate for sustainable energy research. Its ability to degrade complex polysaccharides also positions it as a potential agent for waste treatment and bioremediation, particularly in environments rich in organic matter. Furthermore, studies on C. thailandense contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary relationships within the Clostridium genus, which includes both beneficial and pathogenic species. This research can provide insights into the mechanisms of pathogenicity and the development of novel therapeutic strategies against clostridial infections. Overall, Clostridium thailandense stands out as a microorganism of significant interest in both ecological and applied microbiology.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Bacillota

Class: Clostridia

Order: Eubacteriales

Family: Clostridiaceae

Genus: Clostridium

Species: Clostridium thailandense

NCBI ID

2794346

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/019/207/025/GCA_019207025.1_ASM1920702v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_019207025.1_ASM1920702v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The bacterium Clostridium thailandense is a member of the Clostridia class, which is known for its role in various human health contexts. While it is not as widely studied as other Clostridium species, it has been associated with certain clinical implications. Clostridium thailandense has been implicated in infections particularly in immunocompromised patients, where it can contribute to soft tissue infections and abscess formation. Its pathogenicity is linked to the production of toxins, which can disrupt normal cellular functions and lead to tissue damage. In terms of antimicrobial resistance, there is limited data available, but like many Clostridium species, it may exhibit resistance to certain antibiotics, complicating treatment options. This resistance is a significant concern in clinical settings, especially in patients with underlying health conditions. Furthermore, Clostridium thailandense may play a role in the gut microbiome, where it could have both beneficial and detrimental effects on human health. Some studies suggest that certain Clostridia can be involved in metabolic processes and may influence immune responses. Overall, while Clostridium thailandense is not a primary pathogen like Clostridium difficile, its potential to cause infections and its interactions within the human microbiome warrant further investigation to fully understand its clinical relevance.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Clostridium thailandense is a species of bacteria that thrives in anaerobic environments, primarily found in the gut microbiota of various animals, including humans. This microorganism is particularly notable for its role in the fermentation of complex carbohydrates, contributing to the breakdown of dietary fibers and the production of short-chain fatty acids, which are essential for gut health and energy metabolism. In addition to its presence in the gastrointestinal tract, C. thailandense can also be found in soil and sediment environments, where it plays a crucial role in the decomposition of organic matter. This process not only recycles nutrients back into the ecosystem but also supports the growth of other microorganisms and plants. Symbiotic relationships are significant for C. thailandense, as it often coexists with other gut flora, contributing to a balanced microbiome. This symbiosis can enhance the host's immune response and protect against pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, its ability to produce gas during fermentation can influence the gut environment, affecting motility and overall gut health. Overall, C. thailandense exemplifies the importance of anaerobic bacteria in both terrestrial and intestinal biomes, showcasing its adaptability and essential functions within these ecosystems.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Clostridium thailandense has shown significant potential in various industrial applications. One of the most notable areas is in biofuel production, where Clostridium thailandense is utilized for its ability to ferment lignocellulosic biomass into bioethanol. This process involves fermentation, where the organism converts sugars derived from plant materials into ethanol, providing a renewable energy source that can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels. In addition to biofuels, Clostridium thailandense plays a role in biotechnology through its capacity for enzyme production. The organism produces a range of enzymes that can be harnessed for industrial processes, including those involved in the breakdown of complex carbohydrates, which can be beneficial in various applications such as food processing and waste management. Furthermore, Clostridium thailandense has demonstrated capabilities in waste management through its involvement in biodegradation processes. It can effectively break down organic waste materials, contributing to the reduction of landfill waste and the production of biogas, which can be used as an energy source. In the realm of pharmaceutical development, the metabolic pathways of Clostridium thailandense are being explored for the production of valuable biochemicals and pharmaceuticals. The organism's unique metabolic capabilities may lead to the synthesis of novel compounds that could have therapeutic applications. Overall, Clostridium thailandense is a versatile microorganism with promising applications across multiple industries, particularly in biofuel production, biotechnology, waste management, and pharmaceutical development, making it a valuable asset in the pursuit of sustainable industrial practices.

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/gemini-flash-1.5	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	google/gemini-pro	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	openchat/openchat-7b	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	google/gemini-pro-1.5	google/gemini-pro-1.5	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	google/gemma-7b-it	google/gemma-7b-it	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct
Motility	TRUE	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗
Gram staining	gram stain positive	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain negative ✗	gram stain variable ✗	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 negative ✗	N/A	gram stain negative ✗
Aerophilicity	anaerobic	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗
Biofilm formation	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Animal pathogenicity	N/A	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	true	true	false	false	true	true	false	false
Biosafety level	biosafety level 1	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	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 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	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Host association	N/A	true	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	true	true	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 ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Spore formation	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 ✓
Hemolysis	N/A	alpha	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	N/A	alpha	alpha	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 ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓

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