Azospirillum lipoferum

General Information

Azospirillum lipoferum is a fascinating microorganism primarily known for its nitrogen-fixing capabilities, which make it highly valuable in agricultural research and applications. This bacterium forms symbiotic relationships with various grasses and cereals, enhancing plant growth by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can readily absorb and utilize. This process not only reduces the need for chemical fertilizers but also promotes sustainable agricultural practices. One of the unique features of A. lipoferum is its ability to produce phytohormones such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), which further stimulates plant growth and development. This dual role in nitrogen fixation and hormone production makes A. lipoferum a powerful biofertilizer. Additionally, A. lipoferum exhibits a high degree of genetic and metabolic versatility, allowing it to adapt to various environmental conditions. This adaptability is crucial for its survival and effectiveness in different soil types and climates, making it a robust candidate for use in diverse agricultural settings. Research into A. lipoferum has also revealed its potential in bioremediation. The bacterium can degrade certain environmental pollutants, contributing to soil health and reducing the impact of contaminants. In summary, Azospirillum lipoferum is a microorganism of significant interest due to its nitrogen-fixing ability, production of growth-promoting phytohormones, genetic versatility, and potential applications in sustainable agriculture and environmental remediation.

Azospirillum lipoferum is a fascinating bacterium primarily known for its role in promoting plant growth through nitrogen fixation. This organism is a member of the genus Azospirillum, which is characterized by its ability to associate with the roots of various plants, particularly grasses. One of the most interesting aspects of A. lipoferum is its capacity to enhance nutrient uptake and stimulate root development, making it a valuable ally in sustainable agriculture practices. Unique Characteristics: A. lipoferum is particularly notable for its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, converting it into a form that plants can utilize. This process not only supports plant health but also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, which can have detrimental environmental impacts. The bacterium forms a symbiotic relationship with the plant roots, leading to improved growth and resilience against stressors such as drought. Research Value: The study of A. lipoferum has significant implications for agricultural biotechnology. Researchers are particularly interested in its genetic and metabolic pathways, which can provide insights into enhancing nitrogen fixation in crops. Additionally, the potential for using A. lipoferum as a biofertilizer is being explored, which could lead to more sustainable farming practices and reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers. Furthermore, A. lipoferum has been shown to produce various phytohormones, such as auxins, which play a crucial role in plant growth regulation. This ability to influence plant physiology makes it a subject of interest for studies aimed at improving crop yields and stress tolerance. In summary, Azospirillum lipoferum stands out not only for its beneficial interactions with plants but also for its potential applications in sustainable agriculture and biotechnology, making it a key organism in the quest for environmentally friendly farming solutions.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Pseudomonadota

Class: Alphaproteobacteria

Order: Rhodospirillales

Family: Azospirillaceae

Genus: Azospirillum

Species: Azospirillum lipoferum

NCBI ID

193

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/008/364/955/GCF_008364955.1_ASM836495v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_008364955.1_ASM836495v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The microorganism Azospirillum lipoferum is primarily known for its role as a plant growth-promoting bacterium, particularly in agricultural contexts. However, its clinical implications in human health are less direct but noteworthy. It is a member of the group of bacteria known as diazotrophs, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen, potentially influencing soil health and, indirectly, human nutrition through improved crop yields. While A. lipoferum is not typically associated with human disease, its presence in the human microbiome has been studied for its potential benefits in gut health and immune modulation. Pathogenicity: There is currently no strong evidence linking A. lipoferum to any significant pathogenic effects in humans. It is generally considered non-pathogenic and is often utilized in agricultural practices without adverse effects on human health. Antimicrobial Resistance: Research on A. lipoferum does not indicate any known antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, as it is not a common pathogen. Its role in agriculture may contribute to the understanding of microbial interactions in soil and plant systems, but its relevance to human antimicrobial resistance is minimal. Medical Applications: The potential for A. lipoferum in probiotics or as a biofertilizer highlights its importance in sustainable agriculture, which can indirectly affect human health by promoting better nutrition through enhanced food production. However, its direct application in human medicine remains limited and requires further research. In summary, while Azospirillum lipoferum does not have direct clinical implications in terms of human disease, its role in agriculture and potential benefits to human health through improved nutrition and gut health warrant further investigation.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Azospirillum lipoferum is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium commonly associated with soil ecosystems and rhizospheres of various plants. This microorganism thrives in a variety of habitats, particularly in agricultural soils where it forms beneficial relationships with the roots of grasses and cereals. Its presence is often linked to enhanced plant growth and improved soil fertility due to its ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can utilize. In the rhizosphere, Azospirillum lipoferum engages in symbiotic interactions with plant roots, promoting nutrient uptake and stimulating plant growth through the production of phytohormones. This relationship is particularly significant in tropical and subtropical regions, where the bacterium can be found in association with crops such as maize and wheat. Additionally, Azospirillum lipoferum is known to adapt to various environmental conditions, including variations in soil moisture and temperature, which allows it to thrive in diverse habitats. Its role in the ecosystem extends beyond nitrogen fixation; it also contributes to the overall health of the soil microbiome by enhancing microbial diversity and activity. This makes it a crucial player in sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in organic farming systems where chemical fertilizers are minimized. Overall, Azospirillum lipoferum exemplifies the intricate relationships within soil biomes and highlights the importance of microbial life in maintaining ecological balance and promoting plant health.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Azospirillum lipoferum is a notable member of the group of nitrogen-fixing bacteria that has significant potential in various industrial applications. One of the primary areas of interest is in agriculture, where A. lipoferum is utilized for its ability to enhance plant growth through biological nitrogen fixation. This process allows the bacterium to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can readily absorb, thereby improving soil fertility and crop yields without the need for synthetic fertilizers. In addition to its agricultural benefits, A. lipoferum has been explored for its role in biotechnology. The bacterium is known to produce various plant growth-promoting substances, such as auxins and cytokinins, which can stimulate root development and overall plant health. This makes it a valuable tool in the development of biofertilizers that can sustainably enhance agricultural productivity. Moreover, A. lipoferum has potential applications in waste management. Its ability to degrade organic matter can be harnessed in biodegradation processes, helping to break down pollutants in soil and water, thus contributing to environmental remediation efforts. In the realm of biofuel production, A. lipoferum can be involved in the fermentation processes that convert biomass into bioethanol. By enhancing the growth of certain crops used for biofuel, it indirectly supports the efficiency of biofuel production systems. Overall, Azospirillum lipoferum demonstrates a multifaceted role in various industries, particularly in enhancing agricultural practices, contributing to sustainable waste management, and supporting biofuel production through its unique biological activities.

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: 10

LLM predicted phenotypes: 2

Phenotype	High-quality annotation	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	google/gemini-flash-1.5	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	google/gemini-pro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	google/gemma-7b-it	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	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	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	openchat/openchat-7b	openchat/openchat-7b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b
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
Gram staining	gram stain positive	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 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 ✗	aerotolerant ✗	anaerobic ✗	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 ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	FALSE	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	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 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	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Host association	TRUE	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗
Plant pathogenicity	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	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	spirillum ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	spirillum ✗	bacillus ✓	spirillum ✗	spirillum ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	coccus ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	spirillum ✗	spirillum ✗	spirillum ✗	spirillum ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	spirillum ✗	spirillum ✗	spirillum ✗	spirillum ✗	spirillum ✗	spirillum ✗	spirillum ✗	spirillum ✗

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