Nocardia iowensis

General Information

Nocardia iowensis is a fascinating microorganism belonging to the genus Nocardia, which is known for its complex life cycle and ability to degrade a wide range of organic compounds. One of the most noteworthy characteristics of Nocardia iowensis is its role in bioremediation. This organism has been studied for its potential to break down environmental pollutants, including hydrocarbons and other toxic substances, making it a valuable asset in efforts to clean up contaminated sites. Another unique feature of Nocardia iowensis is its production of secondary metabolites, which have shown promise in pharmaceutical applications. These metabolites can exhibit antimicrobial, antifungal, and anticancer properties, highlighting the organism's potential in drug discovery and development. From a research perspective, Nocardia iowensis is also interesting due to its complex cell wall structure, which contains mycolic acids. This feature is shared with other members of the Nocardia genus and contributes to its resilience in harsh environmental conditions. The study of its cell wall components can provide insights into the development of new antibiotics and treatments for infections caused by related pathogens. In summary, Nocardia iowensis stands out for its bioremediation capabilities, production of bioactive compounds, and resilient cell wall structure, making it a subject of significant interest in environmental science, pharmacology, and microbiology research.

Nocardia iowensis is a fascinating actinobacterium that has garnered attention due to its unique ecological niche and potential implications in human health. This microorganism is primarily found in soil and decaying organic matter, contributing to the degradation of complex organic compounds, which makes it an important player in nutrient cycling within ecosystems. Its ability to degrade various hydrocarbons positions N. iowensis as a potential candidate for bioremediation efforts, particularly in environments contaminated with petroleum products or other organic pollutants. One of the most interesting aspects of Nocardia iowensis is its opportunistic pathogenicity. While it is not a common cause of disease, it can lead to infections in immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with underlying health conditions. This dual role as both a beneficial soil microbe and a potential pathogen makes it a valuable subject of study in microbiology and infectious disease research. Furthermore, N. iowensis has been shown to produce various bioactive compounds, which may have pharmaceutical applications. The exploration of these metabolites could lead to the discovery of new antibiotics or other therapeutic agents, highlighting the organism's potential value in drug development. In summary, Nocardia iowensis stands out due to its ecological importance, potential in bioremediation, and its dual role as an opportunistic pathogen, making it a significant organism for both environmental and medical research.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Actinomycetota

Class: Actinomycetes

Order: Mycobacteriales

Family: Nocardiaceae

Genus: Nocardia

Species: Nocardia iowensis

NCBI ID

204891

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/019/222/765/GCA_019222765.1_ASM1922276v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_019222765.1_ASM1922276v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Nocardia iowensis is a member of the genus Nocardia, which is known for its role in human health and disease. It is primarily associated with pulmonary infections and can lead to nocardiosis, a serious condition that often affects immunocompromised individuals. The clinical implications of N. iowensis include its potential to cause cutaneous infections, central nervous system infections, and systemic disease in susceptible patients. One of the significant challenges with N. iowensis is its antimicrobial resistance. This organism exhibits resistance to multiple antibiotics, which complicates treatment options. The most commonly used antibiotics, such as sulfonamides, may not always be effective, necessitating the use of alternative therapies. In terms of immune evasion, N. iowensis has developed strategies to survive within host macrophages, allowing it to persist and cause chronic infections. This ability to evade the immune response is a critical factor in its pathogenicity. While N. iowensis is not commonly associated with outbreaks, its presence in clinical settings highlights the importance of recognizing and diagnosing nocardial infections, especially in patients with underlying health conditions. Overall, understanding the clinical implications of N. iowensis is essential for effective management and treatment of infections it may cause.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Nocardia iowensis is a species of actinobacteria commonly found in various soil environments and decaying organic matter. This microorganism thrives particularly in aerobic conditions, where it plays a crucial role in the decomposition of complex organic materials. Its presence is often associated with agricultural soils, where it contributes to nutrient cycling and soil health by breaking down organic residues and enhancing soil fertility. In addition to its role in soil ecosystems, Nocardia iowensis is known for its ability to form symbiotic relationships with plants. It can enhance plant growth by promoting nutrient availability, particularly in nutrient-poor soils. This interaction underscores its importance in agroecosystems, where it can help improve crop yields and sustainability. Furthermore, Nocardia iowensis is notable for its resilience to harsh environmental conditions, including drought and high salinity. This adaptability allows it to colonize a variety of habitats, from arid regions to wetlands, making it a versatile organism in the microbial community. Its ability to degrade pollutants also positions it as a potential agent for bioremediation in contaminated environments, highlighting its ecological significance in maintaining ecosystem health and stability.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Nocardia iowensis has shown significant potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology, waste management, and pharmaceutical development. This actinobacterium is known for its ability to degrade a wide range of organic compounds, making it a valuable asset in biodegradation processes. For instance, Nocardia iowensis has been utilized in the treatment of wastewater, where it helps in the breakdown of complex pollutants, thereby contributing to more efficient waste treatment systems. In the realm of biofuel production, Nocardia iowensis can play a role in the conversion of biomass into biofuels through its metabolic pathways that facilitate the degradation of lignocellulosic materials. This process is crucial for enhancing the yield of biofuels, as it allows for the utilization of agricultural waste and other organic materials. Moreover, Nocardia iowensis has been studied for its potential in pharmaceutical development, particularly in the production of bioactive compounds. Its unique enzymatic activities can lead to the synthesis of novel antibiotics and other therapeutic agents, showcasing its importance in the pharmaceutical industry. Overall, the diverse capabilities of Nocardia iowensis in fermentation, biodegradation, and enzyme production highlight its significance in advancing sustainable practices across multiple industries.

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	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	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	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	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	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	google/gemini-flash-1.5	google/gemini-flash-1.5	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	openchat/openchat-7b	openchat/openchat-7b	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro
Motility	N/A	false	true	false	false	false	true	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	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 positive ✓	gram stain negative ✗	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain variable ✗	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 positive ✓
Aerophilicity	aerobic	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗
Biofilm formation	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true
Animal pathogenicity	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗
Biosafety level	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 3 ✗	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 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	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Host association	TRUE	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 ✓
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 ✓	false ✓
Spore formation	TRUE	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓
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	gamma	gamma	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 ✓	coccus ✗	coccus ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓

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