Morganella psychrotolerans

General Information

Morganella psychrotolerans is a fascinating microorganism primarily due to its psychrotolerant nature, meaning it can thrive in cold environments. This characteristic makes it particularly interesting for studies related to microbial life in extreme conditions, such as polar regions or refrigerated environments. One of the unique aspects of M. psychrotolerans is its ability to produce urease, an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia. This enzymatic activity is significant in various ecological and industrial processes, including soil nutrient cycling and the treatment of wastewater. Additionally, Morganella psychrotolerans is known for its role in biogenic amine production, which can have implications in food safety and spoilage. The production of compounds like histamine and tyramine by this bacterium can affect the quality and safety of food products, making it a subject of interest in food microbiology. From a clinical perspective, while M. psychrotolerans is not as well-known as other pathogenic bacteria, its close relation to Morganella morganii suggests potential relevance in opportunistic infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. This connection warrants further research into its pathogenic potential and mechanisms of infection. Overall, the study of Morganella psychrotolerans offers valuable insights into microbial adaptation to cold environments, enzymatic activities with industrial applications, and implications for food safety and clinical microbiology.*

Morganella psychrotolerans is a fascinating bacterium that thrives in cold environments, showcasing its remarkable adaptability to extreme conditions. This species was first isolated from Antarctic sea ice, highlighting its unique ecological niche. What makes M. psychrotolerans particularly interesting is its psychrotolerant nature, allowing it to grow at low temperatures, which is a rare trait among bacteria. This characteristic not only provides insights into microbial life in polar regions but also has potential applications in biotechnology, especially in the development of cold-active enzymes that could be utilized in various industrial processes, such as food preservation and bioremediation. The genome of M. psychrotolerans has been sequenced, revealing genes that are involved in cold adaptation, including those responsible for maintaining membrane fluidity and metabolic processes at low temperatures. This genetic information opens up avenues for research into how organisms adapt to extreme environments, which can inform studies on climate change and the potential for life in extraterrestrial icy bodies. Furthermore, M. psychrotolerans has been studied for its potential role in biogeochemical cycles in cold ecosystems, contributing to our understanding of nutrient cycling in polar regions. Its unique metabolic pathways may also provide insights into novel biochemical processes that could be harnessed for environmental and industrial applications. Overall, Morganella psychrotolerans stands out as a valuable organism for research in microbiology, ecology, and biotechnology.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Pseudomonadota

Class: Gammaproteobacteria

Order: Enterobacterales

Family: Morganellaceae

Genus: Morganella

Species: Morganella psychrotolerans

NCBI ID

368603

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/008/692/955/GCF_008692955.1_ASM869295v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_008692955.1_ASM869295v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Morganella psychrotolerans is a Gram-negative bacterium that has been identified in various environmental sources, including cold habitats. While its clinical significance is not as well-established as other members of the Morganella genus, it has been associated with certain clinical implications. Notably, it has been implicated in infections in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with underlying health conditions or those undergoing invasive procedures. The organism's ability to thrive in cold environments suggests a potential role in foodborne illnesses, especially in refrigerated foods, although specific outbreaks linked to M. psychrotolerans are not extensively documented. In terms of pathogenicity, M. psychrotolerans may exhibit virulence factors similar to other Morganella species, such as the production of proteolytic enzymes and the ability to form biofilms, which can enhance its survival and persistence in clinical settings. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern with many Gram-negative bacteria, and while specific resistance profiles for M. psychrotolerans are not fully characterized, its relatives have shown resistance to multiple antibiotic classes, raising concerns about treatment options in infected patients. Furthermore, the organism's interaction with the human body may involve immune evasion strategies, although detailed mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Overall, while Morganella psychrotolerans is not a common pathogen, its potential role in infections and food safety warrants further investigation to better understand its clinical relevance and implications for public health.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Morganella psychrotolerans is a psychrotolerant bacterium primarily found in cold environments such as polar regions, deep-sea habitats, and high-altitude areas. This microorganism thrives in extreme cold conditions, often at temperatures below 5°C, showcasing its remarkable ability to adapt to low-temperature niches. Its presence is particularly noted in glacial ice, permafrost, and cold marine waters, where it plays a significant role in nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition. In these polar biomes, M. psychrotolerans contributes to the breakdown of complex organic compounds, thus facilitating the availability of nutrients for other organisms in the ecosystem. This bacterium is also involved in symbiotic relationships with other microorganisms, enhancing the overall microbial diversity and functionality of its habitat. Furthermore, its ability to produce cold-active enzymes allows it to thrive in environments where other organisms may struggle, making it a key player in the biogeochemical processes of cold ecosystems. The adaptability of Morganella psychrotolerans to extreme conditions underscores its ecological significance in maintaining the balance of microbial communities in cold habitats.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Morganella psychrotolerans has shown significant potential in various industrial applications due to its unique properties. One of the most notable areas is in biotechnology, where it is utilized in fermentation processes to produce valuable metabolites at low temperatures, making it suitable for cold environments. This characteristic is particularly advantageous in regions where traditional fermentation processes may be less efficient due to high temperatures. In the realm of waste management, Morganella psychrotolerans has been studied for its ability to degrade organic pollutants, contributing to biodegradation efforts. This capability allows it to be employed in the treatment of wastewater, where it can help break down complex organic compounds, thus improving water quality and reducing environmental impact. Furthermore, the organism has potential applications in biofuel production. Its metabolic pathways can be harnessed to convert biomass into biofuels through fermentation, providing a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The ability to thrive in cooler temperatures may enhance the efficiency of biofuel production processes in colder climates. In pharmaceutical development, Morganella psychrotolerans may serve as a source of novel enzymes that can be used in drug synthesis or as biocatalysts in various chemical reactions. The enzymatic activity of this microorganism can lead to the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly processes in the pharmaceutical industry. Overall, Morganella psychrotolerans presents a versatile tool in biotechnology, waste management, biofuel production, and pharmaceutical development, showcasing its importance in advancing 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	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	google/gemini-flash-1.5	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	google/gemini-pro	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	google/gemma-7b-it	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	google/gemini-pro-1.5	google/gemini-pro-1.5	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	openchat/openchat-7b	openchat/openchat-7b
Motility	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
Gram staining	gram stain negative	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	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 ✓
Aerophilicity	aerobic	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	aerotolerant ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	FALSE	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	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	true	true	true	true	true	true
Animal pathogenicity	N/A	true	false	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
Biosafety level	biosafety level 1	biosafety level 2 ✗	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 ✗	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 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗
Health association	N/A	true	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Host association	TRUE	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	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	beta	N/A	beta	beta	gamma	gamma	N/A	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	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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