Microbacterium laevaniformans

General Information

Microbacterium laevaniformans is a fascinating microorganism belonging to the genus Microbacterium. One of the most intriguing aspects of this bacterium is its ability to produce levan, a type of fructan. Levan production is particularly noteworthy because it has numerous industrial applications, including use in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics due to its prebiotic properties and ability to form gels and films. Another interesting feature of M. laevaniformans is its adaptability to various environments. It has been isolated from diverse habitats, ranging from soil to plant surfaces, indicating its ecological versatility. This adaptability makes it a valuable subject for studying microbial ecology and environmental microbiology. From a biotechnological perspective, Microbacterium laevaniformans holds potential for bioremediation. Its ability to degrade complex organic compounds suggests it could be employed in cleaning up contaminated environments, particularly those polluted with industrial waste. In summary, Microbacterium laevaniformans is a microorganism of significant interest due to its levan production capabilities, ecological versatility, and potential applications in bioremediation and industrial biotechnology.

Microbacterium laevaniformans is a fascinating member of the genus Microbacterium, known for its unique metabolic capabilities and ecological significance. This bacterium is particularly interesting due to its ability to degrade complex organic compounds, making it valuable in bioremediation efforts. Its enzymatic repertoire allows it to break down various polysaccharides, which can be crucial in the recycling of organic matter in different environments. One of the standout features of M. laevaniformans is its capacity to thrive in diverse habitats, including soil and aquatic environments. This adaptability not only highlights its ecological versatility but also suggests potential applications in environmental biotechnology. The organism has been studied for its role in nutrient cycling, particularly in the degradation of plant materials, which is essential for maintaining soil health and fertility. Additionally, Microbacterium laevaniformans has garnered attention in the field of microbiology for its potential in producing bioactive compounds. Research has indicated that it may synthesize various secondary metabolites, which could have pharmaceutical applications. This aspect opens avenues for further exploration in drug discovery and development, particularly in the search for novel antibiotics or other therapeutic agents. In summary, Microbacterium laevaniformans stands out due to its metabolic versatility, ecological importance, and potential for biotechnological applications. Its ability to degrade complex organic materials and produce bioactive compounds makes it a valuable organism for both environmental and medical research.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Actinomycetota

Class: Actinomycetes

Order: Micrococcales

Family: Microbacteriaceae

Genus: Microbacterium

Species: Microbacterium laevaniformans

NCBI ID

36807

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/016/907/555/GCA_016907555.1_ASM1690755v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_016907555.1_ASM1690755v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The microorganism Microbacterium laevaniformans is a member of the genus Microbacterium, which is known for its environmental presence and potential clinical significance. While it is primarily considered a saprophytic organism, it has been associated with various clinical implications, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Clinical cases have reported its isolation from infections such as pneumonia and skin lesions, indicating its potential pathogenicity under certain conditions. The organism's ability to survive in diverse environments suggests it may possess virulence factors that enable it to evade the host's immune response. Furthermore, there is limited but notable evidence of antimicrobial resistance in some strains of Microbacterium laevaniformans, which raises concerns regarding treatment options for infections caused by this organism. The presence of resistance mechanisms can complicate the management of infections, particularly in patients with weakened immune systems. Despite its pathogenic potential, Microbacterium laevaniformans is also being studied for its possible beneficial applications in biotechnology and medicine, including its role in probiotics and bioremediation. However, more research is needed to fully understand its interactions with the human body and its overall impact on human health.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Microbacterium laevaniformans is a species of bacteria that is commonly found in various soil environments and freshwater ecosystems. This microorganism thrives in nutrient-rich conditions, often associated with decaying organic matter, which provides a suitable habitat for its growth and metabolic activities. Soil Biomes: In terrestrial ecosystems, M. laevaniformans plays a crucial role in the decomposition process. It contributes to the breakdown of complex organic compounds, thereby facilitating nutrient cycling. This bacterium is often found in the rhizosphere, where it interacts with plant roots, promoting plant health through nutrient availability and possibly enhancing resistance to pathogens. Its ability to degrade polysaccharides makes it significant in the soil food web, where it serves as a food source for other microorganisms and contributes to soil fertility. Freshwater Ecosystems: In aquatic environments, M. laevaniformans can be isolated from sediments and biofilms, where it participates in the degradation of organic materials. This bacterium is involved in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, particularly in the breakdown of organic pollutants, which can help maintain water quality. Its presence in these ecosystems indicates a healthy microbial community, essential for the overall functioning of freshwater habitats. Overall, Microbacterium laevaniformans exemplifies the intricate relationships within its biomes, showcasing its role in nutrient cycling, decomposition, and symbiotic interactions with plants and other microorganisms.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Microbacterium laevaniformans has shown significant potential in various industrial applications. One of the primary areas of interest is in biotechnology, where it is utilized for its ability to produce enzymes that can be harnessed in different processes. For instance, it has been documented to participate in fermentation processes, which can be critical for the production of bioactive compounds and other valuable metabolites. In the realm of waste management, Microbacterium laevaniformans has demonstrated capabilities in biodegradation, particularly in the breakdown of complex organic materials. This property makes it a candidate for use in bioremediation efforts, where it can help in the detoxification of contaminated environments, such as soil and water, by degrading pollutants. Furthermore, its enzymatic activity is of interest in biofuel production, where it can contribute to the conversion of biomass into fermentable sugars, which are then used in the production of bioethanol. This process not only aids in renewable energy generation but also promotes sustainable practices by utilizing waste materials. In pharmaceutical development, the unique metabolic pathways of Microbacterium laevaniformans can be explored for the synthesis of novel compounds that may have therapeutic properties. The organism's ability to produce specific metabolites can be leveraged in the development of new drugs or as a source of bioactive substances. Overall, Microbacterium laevaniformans presents a versatile tool in various industries, particularly in biotechnology, waste management, biofuel production, and pharmaceutical development, showcasing its importance in advancing sustainable industrial practices.

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	google/gemini-pro-1.5	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	google/gemini-pro	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	google/gemini-flash-1.5	google/gemini-flash-1.5	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	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	false	true	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	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 negative ✗	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain variable ✗	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✗	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 negative ✗
Aerophilicity	aerobic	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	aerotolerant ✗	aerotolerant ✗	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	TRUE	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗
Biofilm formation	N/A	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
Animal pathogenicity	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	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 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	false	false	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Host association	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗
Plant pathogenicity	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 ✓	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 ✓
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	N/A	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	coccus	coccus

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