Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris

General Information

Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is a fascinating microorganism primarily due to its thermoacidophilic nature, meaning it thrives in both high-temperature and acidic environments. This characteristic makes it particularly interesting for studies on extremophiles and their adaptations to harsh conditions. One of the most notable features of A. acidoterrestris is its ability to spoil acidic beverages, such as fruit juices, which has significant implications for the food and beverage industry. The organism can survive pasteurization processes that are typically used to ensure the safety and longevity of these products. This resilience is largely due to its production of heat-resistant endospores, which can germinate and grow even after thermal treatments. Additionally, A. acidoterrestris produces guaiacol, a compound responsible for off-flavors in contaminated beverages, often described as having a medicinal or smoky taste. This spoilage potential has driven extensive research into detection methods and control strategies to mitigate its impact on food quality. From a biochemical perspective, A. acidoterrestris is intriguing because of its unique lipid composition. The presence of ω-alicyclic fatty acids in its cell membrane is a distinctive adaptation that helps maintain membrane stability and functionality under extreme conditions. This adaptation is a subject of interest for researchers exploring the mechanisms of cellular resilience and potential applications in biotechnology. In summary, Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is a microorganism of significant interest due to its thermoacidophilic properties, its impact on the food and beverage industry through spoilage, and its unique biochemical adaptations that offer insights into microbial survival in extreme environments.

Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is a fascinating thermophilic bacterium known for its ability to thrive in acidic environments, particularly in fruit juices and other acidic food products. This organism is notable for its thermophilic nature, allowing it to survive and grow at elevated temperatures, which is uncommon among many other acidophilic bacteria. Its optimal growth temperature typically ranges from 45°C to 60°C, making it a subject of interest in food microbiology and preservation studies. One of the most intriguing aspects of A. acidoterrestris is its spoilage potential in fruit juices, particularly apple juice, where it can produce off-flavors and spoilage compounds. This characteristic has significant implications for the food industry, as it poses challenges for the shelf life and quality of acidic beverages. The ability of this bacterium to produce thermostable acids and other metabolites under acidic conditions makes it a unique model for studying microbial spoilage mechanisms. Furthermore, A. acidoterrestris has garnered attention for its potential applications in biotechnology. Its metabolic pathways and enzymatic capabilities can be explored for the development of novel fermentation processes or bioproducts. The study of this organism can also provide insights into microbial adaptations to extreme environments, contributing to our understanding of microbial ecology and evolution. In summary, Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris stands out due to its thermophilic and acidophilic properties, its role in food spoilage, and its potential biotechnological applications, making it a valuable organism for both research and industry.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Bacillota

Class: Bacilli

Order: Bacillales

Family: Alicyclobacillaceae

Genus: Alicyclobacillus

Species: Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris

NCBI ID

1450

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/022/674/245/GCA_022674245.1_ASM2267424v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_022674245.1_ASM2267424v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The bacterium Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is primarily known for its role in food spoilage, particularly in acidic fruit juices and other beverages. It is a thermophilic, acidophilic organism that can survive and grow in low pH environments, making it a significant concern for the food and beverage industry. Clinical implications arise from its ability to produce off-flavors and spoilage compounds, which can lead to economic losses and consumer dissatisfaction. While A. acidoterrestris is not typically associated with human infections, its presence in food products can indicate poor processing and storage conditions, potentially leading to food safety issues. In terms of pathogenicity, A. acidoterrestris is not considered a human pathogen; however, its spoilage characteristics can indirectly affect human health by compromising food quality. The organism is known for its resistance to various preservation methods, including pasteurization, which poses challenges for food safety management. There is ongoing research into the potential use of A. acidoterrestris in biotechnological applications, such as the production of organic acids and other metabolites. However, its primary relevance remains in the context of food spoilage rather than direct clinical applications like probiotics or therapeutics. Overall, while A. acidoterrestris does not have direct clinical implications for human health, its impact on food safety and quality is significant, warranting attention from both food scientists and public health officials.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is primarily recognized for its industrial applications in the food and beverage sector, particularly in fruit juice production. This bacterium is known for its ability to survive and thrive in acidic environments, making it a significant concern for the quality of acidic beverages. However, its unique properties also open avenues for biotechnology applications. In the context of fermentation, Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris can be utilized in the production of certain fermented products, where its metabolic pathways may contribute to flavor development or preservation. Its ability to produce heat-resistant spores allows it to endure pasteurization processes, which can be harnessed for developing products with extended shelf life. Moreover, this microorganism has been studied for its potential in waste management. Its capacity to degrade various organic compounds can be beneficial in biodegradation processes, particularly in treating acidic waste streams. This application is crucial for industries that generate acidic effluents, as Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris can help in the breakdown of pollutants, thus contributing to environmental sustainability. In the realm of pharmaceutical development, while not extensively documented, the enzymatic activities of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris may offer insights into novel enzyme production, which could be explored for therapeutic applications. The organism's resilience in harsh conditions could lead to the discovery of enzymes that are stable and effective in various industrial processes. Overall, Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris presents a dual nature in industrial applications, being both a challenge in food safety and a potential asset in biotechnology and waste management.

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