Serratia rubidaea

General Information

Serratia rubidaea is a fascinating microorganism belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. One of the most striking features of this bacterium is its distinctive red pigmentation, which is due to the production of a pigment called prodigiosin. This pigment not only gives S. rubidaea its characteristic color but also has been the subject of extensive research due to its potential antibiotic, antifungal, and anticancer properties. The ability of S. rubidaea to produce prodigiosin makes it an organism of interest in the field of biotechnology. Researchers are exploring ways to harness this pigment for therapeutic applications, particularly in the development of new antimicrobial agents and cancer treatments. Additionally, S. rubidaea has been studied for its role in bioremediation. It has shown potential in the degradation of various environmental pollutants, making it a candidate for use in cleaning up contaminated sites. From a clinical perspective, while S. rubidaea is not as commonly associated with infections as some other members of the Serratia genus, it can still be an opportunistic pathogen, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. This dual role as both a potential pathogen and a source of valuable bioproducts makes S. rubidaea a microorganism of significant interest in both medical and environmental microbiology.

Serratia rubidaea is a fascinating species of bacteria belonging to the genus Serratia, which is part of the family Enterobacteriaceae. This organism is particularly notable for its distinctive red pigmentation, which is attributed to the production of prodigiosin, a red pigment that has garnered interest for its potential applications in various fields, including medicine and biotechnology. The pigment not only contributes to the organism's unique appearance but also exhibits antimicrobial properties, making Serratia rubidaea a subject of research in the development of new antimicrobial agents. Another interesting aspect of Serratia rubidaea is its ability to thrive in diverse environments, including soil, water, and even clinical settings. This adaptability raises questions about its ecological role and potential interactions with other microorganisms. Researchers are particularly intrigued by its metabolic versatility, which allows it to utilize a wide range of substrates, making it a valuable model for studying metabolic pathways and microbial ecology. Furthermore, Serratia rubidaea has been implicated in various biotechnological applications, such as bioremediation, where its metabolic capabilities can be harnessed to degrade environmental pollutants. Its ability to produce enzymes that can break down complex organic compounds positions it as a potential candidate for use in environmental cleanup efforts. In summary, Serratia rubidaea stands out due to its vivid pigmentation, antimicrobial properties, and metabolic versatility, making it a significant organism for research in microbiology, ecology, and biotechnology.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Pseudomonadota

Class: Gammaproteobacteria

Order: Enterobacterales

Family: Yersiniaceae

Genus: Serratia

Species: Serratia rubidaea

NCBI ID

61652

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/016/026/735/GCA_016026735.1_ASM1602673v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_016026735.1_ASM1602673v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Serratia rubidaea is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family and is known for its clinical significance primarily in immunocompromised patients. It has been associated with various infections, including urinary tract infections, wound infections, and bacteremia. Its pathogenicity is attributed to its ability to produce a range of virulence factors, including biofilm formation, which enhances its survival in hostile environments and contributes to its role in nosocomial infections. One of the notable aspects of Serratia rubidaea is its antimicrobial resistance. It has shown resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, including beta-lactams and aminoglycosides, which complicates treatment options for infected patients. This resistance is often due to the production of beta-lactamases and other efflux mechanisms that allow the organism to evade the effects of antibiotics. In terms of immune evasion, Serratia rubidaea can manipulate host immune responses, potentially leading to chronic infections. It has been implicated in outbreaks, particularly in healthcare settings, where it can spread through contaminated medical equipment or surfaces. While Serratia rubidaea is primarily recognized for its pathogenic potential, there is ongoing research into its role in the human microbiome and its potential applications in biotechnology. However, its clinical implications remain a significant concern, particularly in vulnerable populations.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Serratia rubidaea is a bacterium commonly found in various habitat types that are rich in organic matter. This microorganism is particularly associated with soil environments, where it plays a significant role in the decomposition of organic materials. Its presence is often noted in agricultural soils, where it contributes to nutrient cycling and soil health by breaking down complex organic compounds into simpler forms that can be utilized by plants and other microorganisms. In addition to soil, Serratia rubidaea is frequently isolated from water bodies, including freshwater environments such as rivers and lakes. Here, it can thrive in nutrient-rich conditions, often linked to organic pollution. The bacterium is known for its ability to degrade various pollutants, thus playing a crucial role in bioremediation efforts. Furthermore, Serratia rubidaea exhibits notable interactions with its surroundings, including potential symbiotic relationships with plants. It may enhance plant growth by improving nutrient availability or by providing protection against certain pathogens. This interaction underscores its importance in ecosystem dynamics, where it contributes to both soil fertility and plant health. Overall, Serratia rubidaea thrives in diverse environments, showcasing its adaptability and ecological significance in both terrestrial and aquatic biomes.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Serratia rubidaea has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology, waste management, and pharmaceutical development. One of the notable features of Serratia rubidaea is its ability to produce pigments, specifically prodigiosin, which has been explored for its antimicrobial properties. This pigment production can be harnessed in biotechnology for the development of natural colorants and as a potential antibiotic in pharmaceutical applications. In the realm of waste management, Serratia rubidaea has demonstrated capabilities in biodegradation, particularly in the breakdown of complex organic compounds. This makes it a candidate for use in bioremediation processes, where it can help in the detoxification of contaminated environments, such as soil and water polluted with hydrocarbons or heavy metals. Furthermore, the enzymatic activities of Serratia rubidaea can be utilized in fermentation processes, contributing to the production of various bioactive compounds. Its ability to thrive in diverse environments also suggests potential applications in biofuel production, where it may assist in the conversion of biomass into usable energy forms through fermentation pathways. Overall, Serratia rubidaea presents a multifaceted opportunity for industries focused on sustainability, health, and innovative bioprocessing techniques.

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: 4

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

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