Natrinema altunense

General Information

Natrinema altunense is a fascinating microorganism belonging to the domain Archaea, specifically within the family Natrialbaceae. This extremophilic archaeon is particularly notable for its ability to thrive in hypersaline environments, such as salt lakes and saline soils, where few other organisms can survive. One of the most intriguing aspects of N. altunense is its remarkable adaptability to high salt concentrations, which makes it an excellent model organism for studying osmoregulation and salt tolerance mechanisms. The cell structure of N. altunense is adapted to its extreme environment, featuring a highly stable cell membrane and specialized proteins that function optimally in high-salt conditions. These adaptations are not only of academic interest but also have potential biotechnological applications. For instance, enzymes from N. altunense are often more stable and active in high-salt environments, making them valuable for industrial processes that require such conditions. Another unique feature of N. altunense is its pigmentation, which is due to the presence of carotenoids. These pigments not only protect the cells from intense solar radiation but also have antioxidant properties, which could be harnessed for various applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In summary, Natrinema altunense is a highly specialized archaeon with unique adaptations to extreme salinity, making it a valuable organism for both fundamental research and potential industrial applications. Its ability to produce stable enzymes and protective pigments under harsh conditions highlights its potential utility in biotechnology and other fields.

Natrinema altunense is a fascinating archaeon belonging to the family Halobacteriaceae, primarily known for its extreme halophilic nature, thriving in highly saline environments such as salt flats and salt mines. This organism is particularly interesting due to its ability to survive and flourish in conditions that would be inhospitable to most life forms, showcasing the incredible adaptability of life on Earth. One of the unique characteristics of Natrinema altunense is its metabolic versatility. It utilizes a variety of organic compounds for growth, which allows it to exploit diverse ecological niches within saline habitats. This metabolic flexibility makes it a valuable model organism for studying extremophiles and their potential applications in biotechnology, such as bioremediation and the production of bioactive compounds. Additionally, Natrinema altunense has been noted for its unique genomic features, including the presence of genes that confer resistance to high salt concentrations. This genetic makeup not only aids in its survival but also provides insights into the evolutionary adaptations of extremophiles. Researchers are particularly interested in the mechanisms of osmoregulation and salt tolerance exhibited by this archaeon, which could have implications for understanding similar processes in other organisms. Furthermore, the study of Natrinema altunense contributes to our knowledge of microbial diversity in extreme environments, highlighting the ecological roles that such organisms play in their habitats. Its potential applications in industrial processes, such as enzyme production under extreme conditions, further underscore its significance in both environmental and applied microbiology. Overall, Natrinema altunense stands out as a remarkable organism that exemplifies the resilience and versatility of life in extreme conditions.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Archaea

Phylum: Euryarchaeota

Class: Halobacteria

Order: Halobacteriales

Family: Natrialbaceae

Genus: Natrinema

Species: Natrinema altunense

NCBI ID

222984

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/004/209/855/GCF_004209855.1_ASM420985v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_004209855.1_ASM420985v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The microorganism Natrinema altunense is a halophilic archaeon that has garnered interest due to its unique adaptations to extreme saline environments. While it is primarily studied in the context of environmental microbiology, its potential clinical implications are emerging. Research indicates that Natrinema altunense may possess unique metabolic pathways that could be harnessed for biotechnological applications, including the production of enzymes that function in high-salt conditions. These enzymes could have therapeutic potential in the development of novel antimicrobial agents, particularly against pathogens that exhibit antimicrobial resistance. In terms of human health, the organism's ability to thrive in extreme conditions may provide insights into microbial survival strategies, which could inform our understanding of pathogenicity in other microorganisms. However, there is currently limited direct evidence linking Natrinema altunense to specific human diseases or infections. Its role in the human microbiome is not well-documented, and further research is needed to explore any potential interactions with human health. Moreover, the study of Natrinema altunense contributes to our understanding of immune evasion strategies employed by extremophiles, which may have implications for the development of new therapeutic approaches. Overall, while Natrinema altunense is not yet recognized as a significant pathogen, its unique properties and potential applications in biotechnology and medicine warrant further investigation.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Natrinema altunense is a halophilic archaeon primarily found in high-salinity environments, such as salt flats, salt lakes, and saline soils. This microorganism thrives in conditions where the salt concentration is significantly higher than that of seawater, often exceeding 3 M NaCl. Its ability to withstand extreme salinity is attributed to its unique cellular mechanisms that maintain osmotic balance, allowing it to flourish in these harsh conditions. Ecological Niches: In its natural habitat, Natrinema altunense plays a crucial role in the microbial community by contributing to the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients. It is involved in the degradation of organic matter and the recycling of nitrogen and sulfur compounds, which are essential for the health of the ecosystem. This archaeon can also produce compatible solutes, which help stabilize proteins and cellular structures under extreme osmotic stress. Interactions with Surroundings: Natrinema altunense often exists in symbiotic relationships with other microorganisms, including bacteria and other archaea. These interactions can enhance nutrient availability and promote the overall productivity of the microbial community. Additionally, its presence can influence the salinity levels and pH of its environment, creating a unique niche that supports a diverse array of halophilic life forms. Overall, Natrinema altunense exemplifies the adaptability of life in extreme conditions and highlights the importance of microbial diversity in maintaining the ecological balance of saline habitats.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Natrinema altunense is a halophilic archaeon that has shown significant potential in various industrial applications. One of the primary areas of interest is in biotechnology, where Natrinema altunense is utilized for its unique enzymatic properties. The organism produces extremozymes, which are enzymes that function optimally in high-salinity environments. These enzymes can be harnessed in biocatalysis for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other valuable compounds, providing a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical processes. In the realm of waste management, Natrinema altunense has been studied for its ability to degrade organic pollutants in saline environments. This capability makes it a candidate for bioremediation processes, particularly in saline wastewater treatment facilities, where it can help in the breakdown of contaminants while thriving in high-salt conditions. Furthermore, the organism's metabolic pathways can be explored for biofuel production. The ability of Natrinema altunense to metabolize various substrates in extreme conditions can be advantageous in the development of biofuels, particularly in saline or arid regions where conventional crops for biofuel are not viable. Overall, Natrinema altunense represents a promising candidate for various industrial applications, particularly in biotechnology, waste management, and biofuel production, leveraging its unique adaptations to extreme environments.

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

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