Bradyrhizobium australafricanum

General Information

Bradyrhizobium australafricanum is a fascinating microorganism primarily due to its role in nitrogen fixation, which is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This bacterium forms symbiotic relationships with leguminous plants, where it resides in root nodules and converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, a form that plants can readily use for growth. This process significantly reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, making B. australafricanum valuable for eco-friendly farming practices. One of the unique aspects of Bradyrhizobium australafricanum is its adaptability to different environmental conditions, which allows it to thrive in diverse geographical regions, including Australia and Africa, as its name suggests. This adaptability is of particular interest to researchers studying microbial ecology and the evolution of symbiotic relationships. Moreover, B. australafricanum has a relatively large genome compared to other rhizobia, which provides it with a broad metabolic capacity. This genetic diversity enables the bacterium to interact with a wide range of host plants, making it a subject of interest for genetic and genomic studies aimed at understanding plant-microbe interactions. In addition to its agricultural importance, Bradyrhizobium australafricanum is also studied for its potential in bioremediation. Its ability to survive in various soil types and conditions suggests that it could be used to help clean up contaminated environments, particularly those affected by heavy metals or other pollutants. Overall, Bradyrhizobium australafricanum is a key player in sustainable agriculture and environmental management, making it a valuable organism for both applied and fundamental research.

Bradyrhizobium australafricanum is a fascinating species of nitrogen-fixing bacteria that plays a crucial role in the ecology of leguminous plants, particularly in the regions of Australia and Africa. This organism is notable for its ability to form symbiotic relationships with various legumes, leading to the formation of root nodules where nitrogen fixation occurs. This process is vital for soil fertility and agricultural productivity, making B. australafricanum an important player in sustainable farming practices. One of the unique characteristics of B. australafricanum is its adaptation to diverse environmental conditions, which allows it to thrive in different soil types and climates. This adaptability is particularly valuable for researchers studying the impacts of climate change on agricultural systems, as it may provide insights into how beneficial microbes can be utilized to enhance crop resilience. Furthermore, B. australafricanum has been the subject of research due to its genetic diversity and evolutionary significance. Studies have shown that this species exhibits a wide range of genetic variations, which can influence its symbiotic efficiency and nitrogen-fixing capabilities. Understanding these genetic factors can lead to the development of more effective biofertilizers and improved legume varieties. In addition, the metabolic pathways of B. australafricanum are of interest for biotechnological applications. The ability of this bacterium to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by plants is a key area of research, particularly in the context of reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. This not only has economic benefits but also contributes to environmental sustainability by minimizing nitrogen runoff and pollution. Overall, Bradyrhizobium australafricanum stands out as a significant organism in the field of microbiology and agriculture, with its contributions to nitrogen fixation, adaptability, and potential for biotechnological advancements making it a valuable subject for ongoing research.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Pseudomonadota

Class: Alphaproteobacteria

Order: Hyphomicrobiales

Family: Nitrobacteraceae

Genus: Bradyrhizobium

Species: Bradyrhizobium australafricanum

NCBI ID

2821406

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/020/329/495/GCA_020329495.1_ASM2032949v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_020329495.1_ASM2032949v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Bradyrhizobium australafricanum is primarily known for its role in nitrogen fixation in leguminous plants, contributing to soil fertility and agricultural productivity. However, its clinical implications are less well-documented compared to other members of the genus. There is emerging evidence suggesting that certain strains of Bradyrhizobium may have potential pathogenic effects in specific contexts, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Infections caused by this organism are rare but can occur, leading to opportunistic infections in patients with weakened immune systems. Furthermore, the organism's ability to form biofilms may contribute to its pathogenicity, complicating treatment options. In terms of antimicrobial resistance, while specific data on B. australafricanum is limited, the genus has been associated with resistance mechanisms that could pose challenges in clinical settings. The organism's interaction with the human body is not fully understood, but it is hypothesized that it may evade the immune response through various strategies, including the production of polysaccharides that can inhibit phagocytosis. Currently, there are no widely recognized medical applications of B. australafricanum in terms of probiotics, vaccines, or therapeutics. However, its role in agriculture and potential interactions with human health underscore the need for further research to fully elucidate its clinical relevance and implications.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Bradyrhizobium australafricanum is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium primarily associated with the tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas of Africa. This microorganism thrives in the rhizosphere of leguminous plants, forming a crucial symbiotic relationship that enhances soil fertility and plant growth. The bacterium is particularly notable for its ability to adapt to various soil types, including sandy and clay-rich soils, which are common in these biomes. In its ecological niche, B. australafricanum plays a vital role in nitrogen cycling, converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that is accessible to plants. This process not only supports the growth of legumes but also benefits surrounding flora by improving soil nutrient content. The presence of this bacterium can lead to increased biodiversity in the ecosystem, as healthier plants provide habitats and food sources for various organisms. Additionally, B. australafricanum exhibits environmental adaptability, allowing it to survive in conditions that may be challenging for other microorganisms. Its ability to form effective nodules on the roots of host plants is essential for its survival and function within the tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Overall, the interactions between Bradyrhizobium australafricanum and its environment underscore its importance in maintaining the health and productivity of the biomes it inhabits.

Industrial Application

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

The bacterium Bradyrhizobium australafricanum is primarily known for its role in agricultural biotechnology, particularly in the context of nitrogen fixation. This microorganism forms symbiotic relationships with leguminous plants, enhancing soil fertility by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can utilize. This process is crucial for sustainable agriculture, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and promoting soil health. In addition to its agricultural applications, Bradyrhizobium australafricanum has potential in waste management. Its ability to degrade organic matter can be harnessed in biodegradation processes, where it helps in the breakdown of waste materials, thus contributing to more efficient waste treatment systems. Furthermore, there is growing interest in the use of Bradyrhizobium australafricanum in biofuel production. The bacterium's metabolic pathways can be explored for the conversion of biomass into biofuels, particularly through fermentation processes that yield bioethanol from plant materials. Lastly, while not as extensively documented, the potential for Bradyrhizobium australafricanum in pharmaceutical development exists, particularly in the production of bioactive compounds that may have therapeutic properties. The enzymatic activities of this microorganism could be investigated for their applications in drug formulation and development. Overall, Bradyrhizobium australafricanum demonstrates significant promise across various industries, particularly in enhancing agricultural productivity, improving waste management practices, and contributing to sustainable energy solutions.

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	google/gemini-flash-1.5	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	google/gemma-7b-it	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	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	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	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	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 ✓	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 positive ✗	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓
Aerophilicity	aerobic	aerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	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 ✓	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	N/A	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	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 ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Biosafety level	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 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 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓
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	true
Host association	N/A	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false
Plant pathogenicity	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗
Spore formation	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	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 ✓
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
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 ✓

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