Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens

General Information

Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is a fascinating microorganism primarily known for its role in the production of acetic acid. This bacterium is part of the Acetobacteraceae family and is notable for its ability to oxidize ethanol to acetic acid, making it highly valuable in the vinegar production industry. One of the most interesting aspects of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is its ability to produce bacterial cellulose. This biopolymer has unique properties such as high tensile strength, biocompatibility, and the ability to form a highly pure and crystalline structure, which makes it useful in various applications including medical dressings, food industry, and even in the production of bio-composites. Additionally, Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens has been studied for its potential in bioremediation due to its ability to metabolize a variety of carbon sources, including some that are considered pollutants. This versatility in substrate utilization not only underscores its ecological importance but also its potential in industrial biotechnology for the production of biofuels and other value-added products. Another unique feature of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is its symbiotic relationship with plants. It is known to colonize the roots of certain plants, promoting plant growth by producing plant hormones such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). This interaction highlights its potential use in sustainable agriculture as a biofertilizer, enhancing crop yields without the need for chemical fertilizers. In summary, Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is a microorganism of significant interest due to its diverse applications in industrial processes, environmental sustainability, and agricultural productivity. Its ability to produce acetic acid, bacterial cellulose, and plant growth-promoting substances makes it a valuable subject of ongoing research.

Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is a fascinating bacterium primarily known for its role in the production of vinegar through the oxidation of ethanol. This organism is particularly interesting due to its ability to thrive in high concentrations of acetic acid, which is a characteristic that allows it to be a dominant species in vinegar fermentation processes. Its metabolic versatility enables it to utilize a variety of carbon sources, making it valuable in biotechnological applications, especially in the food industry. One of the unique features of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is its production of cellulose, which contributes to the formation of a pellicle in vinegar fermentation. This cellulose production not only aids in the stability of the fermentation process but also has potential applications in the development of biodegradable materials. The cellulose synthesized by this bacterium has garnered interest for its potential use in various industrial applications, including bioplastics and as a thickening agent in food products. Moreover, Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is also recognized for its probiotic potential. Research has indicated that it may have beneficial effects on gut health, which opens avenues for further studies in the field of microbiome research and functional foods. Its ability to produce various metabolites during fermentation can also influence the flavor and quality of vinegar, making it a subject of interest for food scientists. In summary, Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens stands out not only for its role in vinegar production but also for its potential applications in biotechnology, food science, and health, making it a valuable organism for ongoing research and industrial applications.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Pseudomonadota

Class: Alphaproteobacteria

Order: Rhodospirillales

Family: Acetobacteraceae

Genus: Gluconacetobacter

Species: Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens

NCBI ID

89584

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/003/350/405/GCF_003350405.1_ASM335040v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_003350405.1_ASM335040v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The microorganism Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is primarily known for its role in the fermentation process and is often associated with the production of vinegar and other fermented products. However, its clinical implications are becoming increasingly relevant. This organism has been identified as a potential pathogen in certain contexts, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Infections caused by Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens can lead to serious complications, including bacteremia and sepsis, especially in individuals with underlying health conditions. One of the notable aspects of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is its ability to produce biofilms, which can contribute to its pathogenicity by enhancing its resistance to antimicrobial agents and the host's immune response. This biofilm formation is particularly concerning in clinical settings, where it can lead to persistent infections and complicate treatment strategies. In terms of antimicrobial resistance, there have been reports of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens exhibiting resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, which poses a significant challenge in managing infections caused by this organism. The mechanisms of resistance are not fully understood but may involve efflux pumps and enzymatic degradation of antibiotics. Despite its pathogenic potential, Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens also has beneficial applications, particularly in the field of probiotics and fermented foods. Its role in the fermentation process can enhance the nutritional value of food products and contribute to gut health. Ongoing research is exploring its potential use in therapeutics and as a probiotic agent, highlighting the dual nature of this microorganism in human health. Overall, while Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is primarily recognized for its industrial applications, its emerging role as a potential pathogen necessitates further investigation into its clinical implications and the development of effective management strategies.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is a bacterium commonly associated with various fermented environments and plant-associated habitats. This microorganism thrives particularly in environments rich in sugars and organic acids, making it prevalent in sugarcane and fruit juices during fermentation processes. Its ability to convert sugars into acetic acid and other metabolites plays a crucial role in the production of vinegar and other fermented products, highlighting its importance in the food industry. In terms of ecological niches, Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens is often found in the rhizosphere of plants, where it can engage in symbiotic relationships with plant roots. This interaction can enhance nutrient uptake and promote plant growth, showcasing its role as a beneficial microorganism in agricultural ecosystems. Additionally, it can contribute to the biodegradation of organic materials, thus playing a part in nutrient cycling within its habitat. The adaptability of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens to various pH levels and temperature ranges allows it to thrive in diverse environments, from tropical regions where sugarcane is cultivated to more temperate areas where fruits are processed. Its presence in these biomes not only supports fermentation processes but also contributes to the overall health of the ecosystem by fostering microbial diversity and enhancing soil quality.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens has shown significant potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology, waste management, and pharmaceutical development. This organism is well-known for its role in the production of vinegar through the fermentation of ethanol, where it converts ethanol into acetic acid, making it valuable in the food industry. In the realm of biofuel production, Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens can be utilized in the fermentation of plant biomass, contributing to the generation of bioethanol. Its ability to efficiently convert sugars into alcohol makes it a candidate for enhancing biofuel yields. Moreover, this microorganism is recognized for its enzymatic activity, particularly in the production of cellulose and exopolysaccharides, which can be harnessed in various applications, including the development of biodegradable materials and as thickeners in food and cosmetic industries. In waste management, Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens can play a role in the biodegradation of organic waste, helping to reduce environmental pollution and improve waste treatment processes. Its ability to thrive in diverse environments also makes it a candidate for bioremediation efforts, where it can assist in the detoxification of contaminated sites. Overall, Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens demonstrates a multifaceted utility across several industries, making it a valuable microorganism for sustainable practices and innovative applications.

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: 4

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

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