Corynebacterium mustelae

General Information

Corynebacterium mustelae is a bacterium that has garnered interest primarily due to its association with ferrets. This microorganism is part of the genus Corynebacterium, which includes species known for their diverse roles in both health and disease. One of the most intriguing aspects of Corynebacterium mustelae is its potential role in the microbiota of ferrets, where it may contribute to both normal flora and pathogenic states. Research into Corynebacterium mustelae is valuable because it can provide insights into the microbial ecology of ferrets, which are often used as model organisms in biomedical research. Understanding the interactions between Corynebacterium mustelae and its host can help in developing better management practices for ferret health, particularly in captive and laboratory settings. Additionally, the study of Corynebacterium mustelae can contribute to the broader understanding of the Corynebacterium genus, which includes medically significant species such as Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the causative agent of diphtheria. By exploring the genetic and metabolic pathways of Corynebacterium mustelae, researchers can gain insights into the evolutionary adaptations that allow different Corynebacterium species to colonize diverse hosts and environments. In summary, Corynebacterium mustelae is a bacterium of interest due to its association with ferrets, its potential role in the microbiota, and its contribution to the broader understanding of the Corynebacterium genus. Its study can lead to advancements in both veterinary and medical microbiology.*

Corynebacterium mustelae is a fascinating bacterium primarily known for its association with ferrets, particularly in the context of respiratory infections. This organism is a member of the genus Corynebacterium, which is characterized by its club-shaped morphology and unique cell wall structure. One of the most interesting aspects of C. mustelae is its role in the health of ferrets, as it can be a significant pathogen in these animals, leading to conditions such as pneumonia and other respiratory diseases. This makes it a valuable subject of study for veterinary microbiologists and researchers interested in zoonotic diseases. The bacterium is also notable for its ability to produce specific virulence factors that can enhance its pathogenicity. Understanding these factors can provide insights into how C. mustelae interacts with the host's immune system, which is crucial for developing effective treatments and preventive measures. Research on C. mustelae can also shed light on the broader implications of corynebacterial infections in other species, including humans. Furthermore, the study of C. mustelae contributes to our understanding of microbial ecology within the ferret's respiratory tract, highlighting the complex interactions between host and pathogen. This organism serves as a model for exploring the dynamics of bacterial infections in mammals, making it a unique and valuable subject in microbiological research.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Actinomycetota

Class: Actinomycetes

Order: Mycobacteriales

Family: Corynebacteriaceae

Genus: Corynebacterium

Species: Corynebacterium mustelae

NCBI ID

571915

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/001/020/985/GCF_001020985.1_ASM102098v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_001020985.1_ASM102098v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Corynebacterium mustelae is a Gram-positive bacterium primarily associated with the health of ferrets, but it has implications for human health as well. It is known to be a part of the normal flora in the respiratory tract of ferrets, yet it can become pathogenic under certain conditions. Clinical relevance arises from its association with respiratory infections in ferrets, which can lead to severe complications if not treated appropriately. In humans, while Corynebacterium mustelae is not typically a pathogen, it can be an opportunistic pathogen, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, leading to infections that may require medical intervention. One of the notable aspects of Corynebacterium mustelae is its potential for antimicrobial resistance. Strains of this organism have shown resistance to common antibiotics, which complicates treatment options. This resistance is particularly concerning in veterinary medicine, where the use of antibiotics can lead to the selection of resistant strains. In terms of immune evasion, Corynebacterium mustelae may employ strategies similar to other corynebacteria, such as the production of biofilms, which can protect it from host immune responses and antibiotic treatment. This characteristic can contribute to chronic infections in ferrets and potentially in humans. While there are no widely recognized medical applications of Corynebacterium mustelae in terms of probiotics or vaccines, understanding its role in the microbiome of ferrets can provide insights into the management of their health and the prevention of disease. Overall, the clinical implications of Corynebacterium mustelae highlight the importance of monitoring this organism in both veterinary and potential human health contexts, particularly regarding its pathogenicity and resistance mechanisms.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Corynebacterium mustelae is a bacterium primarily associated with the gastrointestinal tract of mustelids, particularly ferrets. This organism thrives in the gastrointestinal environment, which is characterized by a complex microbial community that plays a crucial role in digestion and nutrient absorption. The gut microbiome of ferrets provides a unique ecological niche where Corynebacterium mustelae can flourish, contributing to the overall health of its host by aiding in the breakdown of complex carbohydrates and synthesizing essential vitamins. Notable interactions with its surroundings include its role in maintaining the balance of the gut microbiota. It can engage in symbiotic relationships with other gut microorganisms, helping to prevent the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria. This interaction is vital for the host's immune system, as a balanced gut microbiome can enhance the host's resistance to infections. In addition to its role in the gut, Corynebacterium mustelae may also exhibit environmental adaptations that allow it to survive in the variable conditions of the ferret's diet, which can include a range of proteins and fats. Its ability to metabolize different substrates is essential for thriving in the dynamic environment of the gastrointestinal tract._

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Corynebacterium mustelae has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and waste management. This organism is known for its ability to participate in fermentation processes, which can be harnessed for the production of valuable metabolites. For instance, it can be utilized in the production of amino acids, which are essential for various industrial applications, including animal feed and pharmaceuticals. In the realm of waste management, Corynebacterium mustelae has demonstrated capabilities in biodegradation, particularly in the breakdown of complex organic compounds. This property can be leveraged in the treatment of wastewater, where the microorganism can help in the degradation of pollutants, thus contributing to cleaner effluents and reduced environmental impact. Moreover, the enzymatic activity of Corynebacterium mustelae can be explored for biofuel production. By utilizing its metabolic pathways, it may be possible to convert biomass into biofuels through fermentation processes, thereby providing a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. In summary, Corynebacterium mustelae holds promise in pharmaceutical development through its metabolic products, as well as in environmental biotechnology for waste treatment and biofuel generation, making it a versatile organism in the industrial sector.

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

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