Malacoplasma penetrans

General Information

Malacoplasma penetrans is a fascinating microorganism that belongs to the class Mollicutes, which is known for its lack of a cell wall. This characteristic makes it inherently resistant to antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis, such as beta-lactams. One of the most intriguing aspects of M. penetrans is its parasitic lifestyle. It has been found to infect a variety of host organisms, including humans, where it can colonize mucosal surfaces and potentially contribute to various diseases. The genome of M. penetrans is relatively small, which is typical for Mollicutes, but it contains a unique set of genes that enable it to adhere to and penetrate host cells. This ability to invade host cells is a key factor in its pathogenicity and makes it a subject of interest for researchers studying host-pathogen interactions. Another notable feature of M. penetrans is its metabolic flexibility. Despite its small genome, it can utilize a range of substrates for energy production, which may contribute to its ability to survive in diverse environments within the host. From a research perspective, M. penetrans is valuable for studying the evolution of parasitism and minimal cellular life. Its reduced genome and specialized adaptations provide insights into how organisms can streamline their genetic content while maintaining essential functions for survival and pathogenicity. In summary, Malacoplasma penetrans is a unique and valuable microorganism for scientific research due to its cell wall deficiency, parasitic nature, metabolic versatility, and the insights it offers into minimal genome evolution and host-pathogen interactions.

Malacoplasma penetrans is a fascinating member of the class Mollicutes, notable for its unique characteristics and ecological significance. This microorganism is particularly interesting due to its extreme adaptability to various environments, which allows it to thrive in diverse ecological niches. It has been isolated from the gastrointestinal tracts of various animals, indicating its role in the microbiome and its potential impact on host health and digestion. One of the most remarkable features of M. penetrans is its minimalistic genome, which is one of the smallest known among free-living organisms. This reduced genomic content provides insights into the evolutionary processes that lead to genome reduction and the essential functions required for survival in specific environments. The study of M. penetrans can shed light on the fundamental aspects of cellular life and the evolutionary pressures that shape microbial genomes. Additionally, M. penetrans has garnered attention in the field of synthetic biology and biotechnology due to its simple cellular structure and metabolic pathways. Researchers are exploring its potential applications in various biotechnological processes, including the production of biofuels and other valuable metabolites. Its unique metabolic capabilities may also offer opportunities for bioremediation and environmental sustainability. In summary, Malacoplasma penetrans stands out not only for its ecological roles but also for its contributions to our understanding of microbial evolution and potential applications in biotechnology, making it a valuable subject of study in microbiology and related fields.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Mycoplasmatota

Class: NA

Order: Mycoplasmoidales

Family: Mycoplasmoidaceae

Genus: Malacoplasma

Species: Malacoplasma penetrans

NCBI ID

28227

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/004/127/945/GCF_004127945.1_ASM412794v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_004127945.1_ASM412794v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The microorganism Malacoplasma penetrans is a member of the class Mollicutes and is known for its association with human health and disease. It has been identified as a potential pathogen in immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with HIV/AIDS. The presence of M. penetrans has been linked to respiratory infections and urogenital infections, although its role in these diseases is not fully understood. Pathogenicity is attributed to its ability to evade the immune response, which may involve mechanisms such as antigenic variation and the production of immunomodulatory factors. In terms of antimicrobial resistance, M. penetrans exhibits resistance to certain classes of antibiotics, which complicates treatment options for infections it may cause. This resistance is particularly concerning in clinical settings where patients are already vulnerable due to underlying health conditions. While M. penetrans is not commonly associated with large outbreaks, its detection in clinical specimens raises concerns about its potential role in nosocomial infections and the need for further research to understand its epidemiology. Currently, there are no established medical applications such as probiotics, vaccines, or therapeutics specifically targeting M. penetrans. However, understanding its interactions with the human body and its impact on immune evasion strategies is crucial for developing future interventions and improving patient outcomes.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Malacoplasma penetrans is a unique microorganism primarily associated with the human urogenital tract. This organism thrives in the mucosal surfaces of the urogenital system, where it plays a significant role in the microbial community. Its presence is often linked to the maintenance of a balanced microbiome, which is crucial for preventing infections and promoting overall health in the host. In this biome, Malacoplasma penetrans exhibits symbiotic relationships with other microorganisms, contributing to the complex interactions that define the urogenital microbiome. It may help in the breakdown of organic materials and the production of metabolites that are beneficial to the host. Furthermore, this microorganism has adapted to the specific conditions of the urogenital environment, including variations in pH and nutrient availability. Its ability to thrive in such a niche underscores its ecological significance and potential impact on host health. Overall, Malacoplasma penetrans exemplifies the intricate balance of microbial life within the human urogenital tract, highlighting its role in both health and disease.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Malacoplasma penetrans has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceutical development. This organism is notable for its ability to thrive in specific environments, which can be harnessed for biodegradation processes, particularly in the breakdown of complex organic materials. In the realm of biotechnology, Malacoplasma penetrans can be utilized in fermentation processes to produce valuable metabolites. Its unique metabolic pathways may allow for the synthesis of bioactive compounds that can be used in pharmaceuticals, enhancing drug development efforts. Moreover, its role in waste management is significant, as it can contribute to the degradation of pollutants, thereby aiding in the treatment of wastewater and reducing environmental impact. The enzymatic activities of Malacoplasma penetrans can be explored for their potential in enzyme production, which is crucial for various industrial processes, including food processing and bioremediation. Overall, the applications of Malacoplasma penetrans in these industries highlight its importance as a versatile microorganism with promising capabilities in biofuel production, waste treatment, and pharmaceutical synthesis.

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	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	google/gemini-flash-1.5	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	google/gemma-7b-it	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	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	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	openchat/openchat-7b	openchat/openchat-7b	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat
Motility	N/A	true	true	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	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 variable ✗	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	gram stain negative ✗	N/A	gram stain negative ✗
Aerophilicity	facultatively anaerobic	facultatively anaerobic ✓	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	anaerobic ✗	anaerobic ✗	aerobic ✗	aerobic ✗	anaerobic ✗	anaerobic ✗	anaerobic ✗	anaerobic ✗	aerotolerant ✗	aerotolerant ✗	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 ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	true	true	true	true
Animal pathogenicity	FALSE	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗
Biosafety level	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 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	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 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓
Health association	N/A	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	true	true
Host association	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	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	N/A	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	alpha	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	beta	beta	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Cell shape	coccus	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	coccus ✓	coccus ✓

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