Listeria innocua

General Information

Listeria innocua is a species of bacteria that is closely related to the more notorious Listeria monocytogenes, which is known for causing listeriosis, a serious foodborne illness. However, L. innocua is generally considered non-pathogenic and is often used as a model organism in research due to its genetic and physiological similarities to L. monocytogenes. This makes it particularly valuable for studying the mechanisms of infection and virulence without the associated health risks. One of the key characteristics of L. innocua is its ability to survive and grow in a wide range of environmental conditions, including low temperatures and high salt concentrations. This adaptability is of significant interest in food safety research, as it helps scientists understand how related pathogens might persist in food processing environments. Another interesting aspect of L. innocua is its genetic makeup. The genome of L. innocua has been fully sequenced, providing a comprehensive resource for comparative genomics. This allows researchers to identify genes that are unique to pathogenic species like L. monocytogenes and to understand the genetic basis of virulence and resistance. In addition, L. innocua is often used in biotechnological applications. For example, it can be employed in the development of biosensors for detecting foodborne pathogens. Its non-pathogenic nature makes it a safer alternative for such applications, reducing the risk of contamination and disease. Overall, Listeria innocua serves as a valuable tool in microbiological research and biotechnology, offering insights into bacterial survival mechanisms, genetic differences between pathogenic and non-pathogenic species, and potential applications in food safety and public health.

Listeria innocua is a non-pathogenic species of the genus Listeria, which is often found in various environmental sources, including soil, water, and vegetation. This organism is particularly interesting due to its close relationship with the more pathogenic species, Listeria monocytogenes, which is known for causing listeriosis in humans. The genetic and phenotypic similarities between these two species make L. innocua a valuable model organism for studying the biology and pathogenicity of Listeria as a whole. One of the unique characteristics of L. innocua is its ability to survive and grow in a wide range of temperatures, including refrigeration temperatures, which is a trait shared with its pathogenic counterpart. This resilience raises important questions about food safety and the potential for non-pathogenic strains to contribute to the ecology of foodborne pathogens. Additionally, L. innocua has been utilized in various research studies to understand the mechanisms of bacterial stress responses and adaptation. Its non-pathogenic nature allows researchers to explore these mechanisms without the ethical concerns associated with pathogenic strains. This makes L. innocua an excellent candidate for studies in microbial ecology, food safety, and the development of biotechnological applications. Furthermore, the genome of L. innocua has been sequenced, providing insights into its metabolic pathways and genetic regulation. This genomic information is crucial for comparative studies with L. monocytogenes and can help identify potential targets for intervention in listeriosis outbreaks. Overall, Listeria innocua serves as a significant organism in microbiological research, offering a safe platform for exploring the complexities of the Listeria genus.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Bacillota

Class: Bacilli

Order: Bacillales

Family: Listeriaceae

Genus: Listeria

Species: Listeria innocua

NCBI ID

1642

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/009/648/575/GCF_009648575.1_ASM964857v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_009648575.1_ASM964857v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Listeria innocua is a non-pathogenic species closely related to the pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes. While L. innocua is generally considered safe, it has been studied for its potential role in human health and disease associations. It is often used as a model organism to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of its more virulent counterpart, L. monocytogenes. Clinical implications of Listeria innocua include its potential use in probiotics and as a biotherapeutic agent due to its ability to stimulate the immune system without causing disease. Research has indicated that it may enhance the immune response in certain contexts, making it a candidate for further investigation in immunotherapy. However, it is important to note that while L. innocua is not typically associated with infections, there have been rare cases where it has been isolated from clinical specimens, raising questions about its role in opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals. In terms of antimicrobial resistance, L. innocua has been shown to possess some resistance mechanisms, although these are not as well characterized as those in L. monocytogenes. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing strategies to combat related pathogens. Overall, while Listeria innocua is not a primary pathogen, its study provides valuable insights into immune evasion strategies and the broader implications of the Listeria genus in human health and disease.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Listeria innocua is a non-pathogenic species of the genus Listeria that is commonly found in various environments, particularly in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This microorganism thrives in a range of habitats, including soil, water, and vegetation, where it plays a significant role in nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition. Soil is one of the primary habitats for Listeria innocua, where it can be isolated from agricultural fields and natural environments. In this biome, it contributes to the breakdown of organic materials, thus enhancing soil fertility. Its presence in soil is often associated with the decomposition of plant matter, which provides a rich source of nutrients for the organism. In aquatic environments, Listeria innocua can be found in freshwater and marine ecosystems. It is often detected in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, where it may interact with other microorganisms and contribute to the microbial community dynamics. Its ability to survive in varying salinity levels allows it to adapt to different aquatic habitats, making it a versatile organism in these environments. Additionally, Listeria innocua is frequently associated with food sources, particularly in the context of food safety. It can be found in vegetables, fruits, and dairy products, where it may exist as a saprophyte. In this role, it can outcompete pathogenic species, thus playing a protective role in food ecosystems. Its presence in food products highlights its importance in the context of food microbiology and safety. Overall, Listeria innocua demonstrates a remarkable ability to adapt to various biomes, contributing to ecological balance and nutrient cycling while maintaining a non-pathogenic profile that distinguishes it from its more harmful relatives.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Listeria innocua has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and waste management. While it is primarily known as a non-pathogenic relative of Listeria monocytogenes, its applications are noteworthy. In biotechnology, Listeria innocua can be utilized in the development of vaccines and diagnostic tools due to its ability to stimulate immune responses. This is particularly relevant in the context of fermentation, where it can be engineered to produce specific antigens for vaccine development. In the realm of waste management, Listeria innocua has been studied for its potential in biodegradation processes. It can contribute to the breakdown of organic waste materials, thereby aiding in the treatment of wastewater and reducing environmental pollution. Its enzymatic activity can facilitate the degradation of complex organic compounds, making it a candidate for use in bioremediation efforts. Moreover, Listeria innocua has been explored for its role in food safety applications, where it can be used as a model organism to study the behavior of pathogenic Listeria species in food products. This can help in developing better preservation techniques and improving food safety protocols. Overall, while Listeria innocua is not as widely recognized as other microorganisms in industrial applications, its contributions to biotechnology, waste management, and food safety highlight its potential utility in various sectors.

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