Nitrobacter vulgaris

General Information

Nitrobacter vulgaris is a fascinating microorganism primarily known for its role in the nitrogen cycle. This bacterium is a member of the genus Nitrobacter, which is renowned for its ability to oxidize nitrite to nitrate, a critical step in the nitrification process. What makes Nitrobacter vulgaris particularly interesting is its ecological importance in soil and aquatic environments. By converting nitrite, which can be toxic to plants and aquatic life, into nitrate, it helps maintain the balance of nitrogen in ecosystems, promoting plant growth and overall ecosystem health. Another unique aspect of Nitrobacter vulgaris is its metabolic versatility. While it primarily relies on nitrite oxidation for energy, it can also utilize alternative energy sources under certain conditions, showcasing a remarkable adaptability. This metabolic flexibility makes it a valuable subject for research in microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology. From a biotechnological perspective, Nitrobacter vulgaris holds potential for applications in wastewater treatment and bioremediation. Its ability to efficiently convert nitrite to nitrate can be harnessed to improve the nitrogen removal processes in wastewater treatment plants, thereby reducing the environmental impact of nitrogenous waste. In summary, Nitrobacter vulgaris is a microorganism of significant ecological and biotechnological interest due to its crucial role in the nitrogen cycle, metabolic adaptability, and potential applications in environmental management.

Nitrobacter vulgaris is a fascinating bacterium primarily known for its role in the nitrogen cycle, particularly in the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate. This organism is a member of the family Nitrobacteraceae and is often found in soil and aquatic environments where it contributes significantly to soil fertility and nutrient cycling. What makes N. vulgaris particularly interesting is its ability to thrive in various environmental conditions, which allows it to play a crucial role in both natural ecosystems and agricultural settings. One of the unique aspects of N. vulgaris is its metabolic pathway, which involves the use of nitrite as an electron donor. This process not only aids in the conversion of nitrite to nitrate but also helps in the removal of excess nitrogen from the environment, thus preventing the harmful effects of nitrogen accumulation, such as eutrophication in aquatic systems. This capability makes N. vulgaris a valuable organism for bioremediation efforts, particularly in areas affected by agricultural runoff. In addition to its ecological importance, N. vulgaris has been the subject of various research studies aimed at understanding its enzymatic processes and genetic makeup. The study of its nitrite oxidoreductase enzyme has provided insights into the biochemical pathways of nitrification, which are essential for developing sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, the genetic manipulation of N. vulgaris could lead to enhanced nitrogen fixation processes, which are critical for improving crop yields without the excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Overall, Nitrobacter vulgaris stands out not only for its ecological contributions but also for its potential applications in environmental biotechnology and sustainable agriculture, making it a significant organism in both microbiological research and practical applications.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Pseudomonadota

Class: Alphaproteobacteria

Order: Hyphomicrobiales

Family: Nitrobacteraceae

Genus: Nitrobacter

Species: Nitrobacter vulgaris

NCBI ID

29421

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/002/028/545/GCF_002028545.1_ASM202854v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_002028545.1_ASM202854v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The bacterium Nitrobacter vulgaris is primarily known for its role in the nitrogen cycle, particularly in the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate. While it is not directly associated with human disease, its clinical relevance can be inferred through its impact on environmental health and its potential implications in water quality and agricultural practices. Nitrate contamination in drinking water, often resulting from agricultural runoff, can lead to serious health issues such as methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) in infants. Furthermore, the presence of Nitrobacter vulgaris in soil and water ecosystems contributes to the overall microbial diversity, which is essential for maintaining healthy environments. In terms of antimicrobial resistance, Nitrobacter vulgaris does not exhibit pathogenic traits or resistance mechanisms that are clinically relevant to human health. However, understanding its metabolic pathways can provide insights into bioremediation strategies for managing nitrogen levels in polluted environments. While Nitrobacter vulgaris itself is not used in medical applications like probiotics or vaccines, its role in nutrient cycling underscores the importance of microbial communities in maintaining ecosystem health, which indirectly supports human health by ensuring clean water and soil. Overall, while Nitrobacter vulgaris does not have direct clinical implications, its ecological functions are vital for preventing conditions that can affect human health.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Nitrobacter vulgaris is a significant microorganism primarily found in soil ecosystems and aquatic environments. This bacterium plays a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle, particularly in the process of nitrification, where it oxidizes nitrite to nitrate. This process is essential for maintaining soil fertility and supporting plant growth, making N. vulgaris a key player in terrestrial biomes such as grasslands and forests. In freshwater habitats, N. vulgaris can be found in sediments and water columns, where it contributes to the overall nutrient cycling and helps in the detoxification of nitrite, which can be harmful in high concentrations. Its presence in these environments indicates a healthy ecosystem, as it reflects the balance of nitrogen compounds. Furthermore, N. vulgaris often engages in symbiotic relationships with various plants, enhancing their nutrient uptake capabilities. This interaction not only benefits the plants but also supports the overall biodiversity of the biome by promoting a healthy microbial community. In summary, Nitrobacter vulgaris thrives in nutrient-rich environments and is integral to the functioning of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, showcasing its importance in ecological balance and sustainability.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Nitrobacter vulgaris plays a significant role in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and waste management. This bacterium is primarily known for its ability to oxidize nitrite to nitrate, a process that is crucial in the nitrogen cycle. In the context of waste treatment, Nitrobacter vulgaris is utilized in wastewater treatment plants to enhance the removal of nitrogen compounds, thereby reducing the environmental impact of effluents. This process is essential for maintaining water quality and preventing eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems. In addition to its role in waste management, Nitrobacter vulgaris is also significant in agriculture. By converting nitrite to nitrate, it contributes to soil fertility, promoting plant growth and improving crop yields. This application is particularly important in sustainable farming practices, where the use of chemical fertilizers is minimized. Furthermore, the enzymatic activity of Nitrobacter vulgaris can be harnessed in biotechnology for the development of biofertilizers, which can enhance nutrient availability in soils. This aligns with the growing trend towards environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Overall, Nitrobacter vulgaris demonstrates its utility in biodegradation processes and as a key player in the nitrogen cycle, making it a valuable organism in both waste management and agricultural biotechnology.

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	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/gemini-flash-1.5	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	google/gemini-pro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	openchat/openchat-7b	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	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	google/gemma-7b-it	google/gemma-7b-it	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct
Motility	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	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 ✓	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	N/A	aerobic	aerobic	aerobic	aerobic	aerobic	aerobic	N/A	N/A	N/A	aerobic	aerobic	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
Extreme environment tolerance	FALSE	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗
Biofilm formation	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	false	false
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 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 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓
Health association	N/A	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	false	false
Host association	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	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 ✓	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 ✓	coccus ✗	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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