Staphylococcus equorum

General Information

Staphylococcus equorum is a coagulase-negative staphylococcal species that is primarily associated with animals, particularly horses, from which it derives its name. This microorganism is notable for its presence in various environments, including animal skin and dairy products. One of the key characteristics of S. equorum is its ability to thrive in high-salt environments, making it a common inhabitant of fermented foods such as cheese and sausages. This halotolerance is particularly interesting for researchers studying microbial survival and adaptation in extreme conditions. Another important aspect of S. equorum is its role in the food industry. It is often used as a starter culture in the production of fermented foods due to its ability to inhibit the growth of spoilage organisms and pathogens, thereby enhancing food safety and shelf life. The production of bacteriocins, which are antimicrobial peptides, by S. equorum contributes to its protective effects in food fermentation processes. From a biotechnological perspective, S. equorum is valuable for its potential in biopreservation and its contribution to the flavor and texture of fermented products. Its enzymatic activities, such as lipolytic and proteolytic functions, play a crucial role in the development of the sensory properties of these foods. In summary, Staphylococcus equorum is a versatile and valuable microorganism with significant applications in food safety, preservation, and fermentation. Its ability to adapt to high-salt environments and produce antimicrobial compounds makes it a subject of ongoing research in microbiology and food science.

Staphylococcus equorum is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus that is primarily associated with the skin and mucous membranes of mammals, particularly horses. This organism is particularly interesting due to its unique ecological niche and its role in the microbiota of equine species. It has been isolated from various environments, including the skin of healthy horses, which suggests that it may play a role in maintaining skin health and preventing colonization by more pathogenic organisms. One of the most valuable aspects of S. equorum is its potential for biotechnological applications. Research has indicated that this species can produce antimicrobial compounds, which could be harnessed for developing new antimicrobial agents. This is particularly relevant in the context of rising antibiotic resistance, as S. equorum may offer a natural alternative to synthetic antibiotics. Additionally, S. equorum has been studied for its ability to degrade certain environmental pollutants, showcasing its potential in bioremediation efforts. This characteristic makes it a subject of interest for environmental microbiologists looking to utilize microorganisms for cleaning up contaminated sites. Furthermore, the organism's genetic diversity and adaptability to various environments make it a fascinating subject for studies in microbial evolution and ecology. Understanding how S. equorum interacts with its environment and other microbial communities can provide insights into microbial dynamics and resilience. In summary, Staphylococcus equorum stands out not only for its ecological significance in equine health but also for its promising applications in biotechnology and environmental science, making it a valuable organism for ongoing research.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Bacillota

Class: Bacilli

Order: Bacillales

Family: Staphylococcaceae

Genus: Staphylococcus

Species: Staphylococcus equorum

NCBI ID

246432

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/016/127/455/GCA_016127455.1_ASM1612745v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_016127455.1_ASM1612745v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The bacterium Staphylococcus equorum is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) that is primarily associated with equine and bovine species but has been increasingly recognized in human clinical settings. While it is generally considered a commensal organism on the skin and mucous membranes, it can act as an opportunistic pathogen, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Clinical implications of S. equorum include its potential role in nosocomial infections, where it may contribute to wound infections, catheter-associated infections, and endocarditis. One of the significant concerns regarding S. equorum is its ability to exhibit antimicrobial resistance, particularly to methicillin, which complicates treatment options. This resistance is often attributed to the acquisition of the mecA gene, which encodes for a penicillin-binding protein that reduces the efficacy of beta-lactam antibiotics. The presence of such resistance mechanisms underscores the importance of appropriate antimicrobial stewardship in clinical settings. In terms of immune evasion strategies, S. equorum can produce various virulence factors, including biofilm formation, which enhances its ability to adhere to surfaces and resist phagocytosis by immune cells. This characteristic is particularly problematic in the context of implanted medical devices, where biofilm-associated infections can be difficult to eradicate. While S. equorum is not commonly associated with outbreaks, its increasing detection in clinical specimens highlights the need for ongoing surveillance and research to better understand its pathogenic potential and role in human health. Overall, the clinical relevance of Staphylococcus equorum lies in its opportunistic nature, potential for antimicrobial resistance, and its implications for healthcare-associated infections.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Staphylococcus equorum is a species of bacteria commonly found in various habitats associated with human and animal skin, as well as in the environment surrounding these hosts. This microorganism thrives in epidermal niches, where it plays a significant role in the skin microbiome, contributing to the maintenance of skin health and protection against pathogenic organisms. Its presence is particularly noted in areas with high moisture content, such as interdigital spaces and skin folds, where it can form biofilms that enhance its survival and resilience against environmental stressors. In addition to its role on the skin, Staphylococcus equorum is also found in natural environments such as soil and water, where it participates in nutrient cycling and can influence the microbial community structure. This bacterium exhibits symbiotic relationships with other skin-dwelling microorganisms, helping to establish a balanced microbial ecosystem that can inhibit the growth of harmful pathogens through competitive exclusion and the production of antimicrobial substances. Furthermore, Staphylococcus equorum demonstrates remarkable environmental adaptability, allowing it to survive in varying conditions, including fluctuations in temperature and moisture. Its ability to thrive in diverse biomes underscores its ecological significance, particularly in the context of human health and environmental microbiology.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Staphylococcus equorum has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology, waste management, and pharmaceutical development. In biotechnology, Staphylococcus equorum is known for its role in fermentation processes, where it can be utilized to produce various metabolites, including organic acids and alcohols. This capability makes it a candidate for applications in food production, particularly in the fermentation of dairy products and other food items, contributing to flavor development and preservation. In the realm of waste management, Staphylococcus equorum has demonstrated the ability to degrade certain pollutants, making it useful in biodegradation processes. This characteristic can be harnessed for the treatment of wastewater and the bioremediation of contaminated environments, where it helps in breaking down harmful substances into less toxic forms. Furthermore, in pharmaceutical development, Staphylococcus equorum has been studied for its potential in producing bioactive compounds that may have therapeutic effects. Its enzymatic activity can be explored for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, where specific enzymes produced by the organism can facilitate chemical reactions necessary for drug development. Overall, the diverse capabilities of Staphylococcus equorum in fermentation, biodegradation, and enzyme production highlight its significance in various industrial sectors, paving the way for innovative applications in sustainable practices and product development.

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: 5

Phenotype	High-quality annotation	google/gemini-pro	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/gemini-flash-1.5	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	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	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	openchat/openchat-7b	openchat/openchat-7b	google/gemma-7b-it	google/gemma-7b-it	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct
Motility	N/A	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	true	true	false	false	false	false
Gram staining	gram stain positive	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	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 positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓
Aerophilicity	aerobic	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	aerotolerant ✗	aerotolerant ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	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 ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	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	false	false
Animal pathogenicity	N/A	true	false	false	true	true	false	true	false	true	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Biosafety level	biosafety level 1	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✗	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 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	false	false	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 ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	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 ✓	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 ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Hemolysis	gamma	gamma ✓	gamma ✓	gamma ✓	N/A	gamma ✓	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	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Cell shape	N/A	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus	bacillus	bacillus	coccus	coccus	coccus	coccus

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