Schaalia meyeri

General Information

Schaalia meyeri is a fascinating microorganism that belongs to the genus Schaalia, which is part of the family Actinomycetaceae. This bacterium is particularly interesting due to its role in human health and disease. Schaalia meyeri is known for being part of the normal flora of the human oral cavity, but it can also act as an opportunistic pathogen. One of the most notable aspects of Schaalia meyeri is its involvement in actinomycosis, a chronic bacterial infection that can affect various parts of the body, including the oral and cervicofacial regions, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis. From a research perspective, Schaalia meyeri is valuable due to its unique ability to form complex biofilms, which are structured communities of bacteria that are embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix. This characteristic makes it a model organism for studying biofilm formation and its implications in chronic infections. Additionally, the bacterium's resistance to certain antibiotics poses significant challenges in clinical settings, making it a critical subject for antimicrobial resistance research. Another intriguing feature of Schaalia meyeri is its metabolic versatility. It can utilize a variety of substrates for growth, which contributes to its adaptability in different environments within the human body. This metabolic flexibility is of particular interest for studies on microbial ecology and the interactions between host and pathogen. In summary, Schaalia meyeri is a microorganism of significant interest due to its dual role as a commensal organism and an opportunistic pathogen, its complex biofilm-forming capabilities, and its metabolic adaptability. These characteristics make it a valuable subject for research in microbial pathogenesis, biofilm biology, and antibiotic resistance.

Schaalia meyeri is a fascinating bacterium that belongs to the family of Microbacteriaceae. This organism is particularly interesting due to its ability to thrive in diverse environments, including soil and water, which highlights its ecological versatility. One of the unique aspects of Schaalia meyeri is its potential for biotechnological applications, especially in the field of bioremediation. Its metabolic capabilities allow it to degrade various organic compounds, making it a valuable candidate for environmental cleanup efforts. Additionally, Schaalia meyeri has been studied for its role in the nitrogen cycle, contributing to soil fertility and plant growth. This characteristic underscores its importance in agricultural microbiology, where it may enhance crop yields through natural processes. Furthermore, research into Schaalia meyeri has revealed interesting genetic traits that could be harnessed for synthetic biology applications. The organism's genome contains genes that are involved in the synthesis of bioactive compounds, which could lead to the discovery of new antibiotics or other pharmaceuticals. Overall, Schaalia meyeri stands out not only for its ecological significance but also for its potential contributions to biotechnology and medicine, making it a subject of ongoing research interest.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Actinomycetota

Class: Actinomycetes

Order: Actinomycetales

Family: Actinomycetaceae

Genus: Schaalia

Species: Schaalia meyeri

NCBI ID

52773

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/016/127/995/GCA_016127995.1_ASM1612799v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_016127995.1_ASM1612799v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The microorganism Schaalia meyeri is a Gram-positive, non-spore-forming bacterium that has been associated with various clinical implications, particularly in the context of infections and pathogenicity. It is known to be part of the normal flora of the human skin and mucous membranes, but it can become opportunistic under certain conditions, leading to infections in immunocompromised individuals. The organism has been implicated in cases of bacteremia, endocarditis, and soft tissue infections, highlighting its potential as a pathogen in vulnerable populations. One of the significant concerns regarding Schaalia meyeri is its potential for antimicrobial resistance. Reports have indicated that this organism may exhibit resistance to commonly used antibiotics, which complicates treatment options for infections it may cause. This resistance is particularly concerning in hospital settings where the risk of transmission and infection is heightened. In terms of immune evasion strategies, Schaalia meyeri can produce various virulence factors that help it evade the host's immune response, allowing it to persist and cause disease. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies. While Schaalia meyeri is not widely recognized in the context of probiotics or vaccines, its role in human health and disease underscores the importance of monitoring its prevalence and resistance patterns in clinical settings. Continued research is necessary to fully elucidate its clinical significance and to develop appropriate management strategies for infections associated with this organism.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Schaalia meyeri is a bacterium commonly associated with various aquatic environments, particularly in freshwater ecosystems. This microorganism thrives in lakes, ponds, and rivers, where it plays a crucial role in the nutrient cycling processes. Its presence is often linked to the breakdown of organic matter, contributing to the overall health of the aquatic biome by facilitating the decomposition process and recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. In these freshwater habitats, Schaalia meyeri can be found in the sediment and water column, where it interacts with other microorganisms and aquatic life. It often engages in symbiotic relationships with other bacteria, enhancing the degradation of complex organic compounds. This interaction not only aids in nutrient availability but also supports the growth of other organisms within the food web. Furthermore, Schaalia meyeri exhibits remarkable environmental adaptability, allowing it to thrive in varying conditions such as changes in temperature, pH, and nutrient availability. This adaptability is essential for maintaining the balance of microbial communities in its habitat, especially in areas impacted by anthropogenic activities. Overall, Schaalia meyeri is an integral component of its associated biomes, contributing to the ecological dynamics of freshwater ecosystems and supporting the intricate web of life that depends on these environments.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Schaalia meyeri has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and waste management. This organism is known for its ability to participate in biodegradation, where it can break down complex organic materials, making it valuable in the treatment of waste and the recycling of nutrients in ecosystems. In the realm of biotechnology, Schaalia meyeri can be utilized in fermentation processes, contributing to the production of bioactive compounds and metabolites that have pharmaceutical significance. Its enzymatic activity is noteworthy, as it can produce specific enzymes that facilitate the breakdown of substrates, which can be harnessed in various industrial processes. Moreover, the potential of Schaalia meyeri in biofuel production is being explored, particularly in the conversion of biomass into biofuels through fermentation pathways. This could lead to more sustainable energy sources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Overall, Schaalia meyeri represents a promising candidate for further research and development in these industries, with its capabilities in waste treatment, enzyme production, and biodegradation paving the way for innovative solutions in environmental management and sustainable 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	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	google/gemini-flash-1.5	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	google/gemini-pro	google/gemma-7b-it	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	google/gemini-pro-1.5	google/gemini-pro-1.5	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	openchat/openchat-7b	openchat/openchat-7b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b
Motility	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Gram staining	gram stain positive	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain negative ✗	gram stain negative ✗	gram stain variable ✗	gram stain negative ✗	gram stain negative ✗	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✗	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	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 positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓
Aerophilicity	anaerobic	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	aerotolerant ✗	aerotolerant ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	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 ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	N/A	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true
Animal pathogenicity	FALSE	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗
Biosafety level	biosafety level 2	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	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 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓
Health association	N/A	true	true	true	false	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	false	false	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true
Host association	N/A	true	true	true	false	false	false	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	false	false	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	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 ✓	false ✓
Spore formation	FALSE	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Hemolysis	N/A	alpha	gamma	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	gamma	gamma	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	N/A	bacillus	coccus	bacillus	bacillus	bacillus	bacillus	bacillus	bacillus	bacillus	bacillus	bacillus	coccus	coccus	bacillus	bacillus	bacillus	bacillus	bacillus	bacillus	coccus	coccus	bacillus	bacillus	coccus	coccus	bacillus	bacillus	coccus	coccus

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