[Haemophilus] ducreyi

General Information

Haemophilus ducreyi is a fascinating microorganism primarily known as the causative agent of chancroid, a sexually transmitted infection characterized by painful genital ulcers. What makes H. ducreyi particularly interesting is its role in human disease and its unique pathogenic mechanisms. One of the most notable features of H. ducreyi is its ability to evade the host immune system. It employs a variety of strategies to avoid detection and destruction by immune cells, including the production of factors that inhibit phagocytosis and the formation of biofilms that protect it from immune responses. From a research perspective, H. ducreyi is valuable for studying bacterial pathogenesis and immune evasion. Its interactions with the human host provide insights into the mechanisms of bacterial infection and persistence. Additionally, H. ducreyi has been used as a model organism to study the skin's immune response to bacterial infections, given its ability to cause localized skin lesions. Another unique aspect of H. ducreyi is its genetic makeup. The genome of H. ducreyi has been sequenced, revealing a relatively small genome with a high degree of specialization for its pathogenic lifestyle. This genomic information has been crucial for identifying potential targets for therapeutic intervention and for understanding the evolutionary adaptations that enable its pathogenicity. In summary, Haemophilus ducreyi is a microorganism of significant interest due to its role in human disease, its sophisticated mechanisms of immune evasion, and its utility in research on bacterial pathogenesis and immune responses.

Haemophilus ducreyi is a significant human pathogen primarily known for causing chancroid, a sexually transmitted infection characterized by painful genital ulcers. This organism is particularly interesting due to its specific growth requirements, as it necessitates both hemin (factor X) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD, factor V) for in vitro cultivation, which makes it a challenging organism to study in laboratory settings. The pathogenicity of H. ducreyi is attributed to its ability to evade the host immune response, which is facilitated by its virulence factors such as the production of a variety of adhesins and toxins. These factors enable the bacterium to adhere to and invade epithelial cells, leading to ulcer formation. From a research perspective, H. ducreyi serves as a valuable model for studying sexually transmitted infections and the mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis. Its unique growth requirements and virulence strategies provide insights into the interactions between pathogens and the host immune system. Furthermore, understanding the epidemiology of H. ducreyi is crucial, as it is often associated with co-infections of other sexually transmitted pathogens, which can complicate treatment and management strategies. In summary, Haemophilus ducreyi is not only a key player in the realm of infectious diseases but also a fascinating subject for research into bacterial virulence, host-pathogen interactions, and the broader implications of sexually transmitted infections on public health.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Pseudomonadota

Class: Gammaproteobacteria

Order: Pasteurellales

Family: Pasteurellaceae

Genus: Haemophilus

Species: [Haemophilus] ducreyi

NCBI ID

730

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/001/647/695/GCF_001647695.1_ASM164769v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_001647695.1_ASM164769v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Haemophilus ducreyi is primarily known for its role in causing chancroid, a sexually transmitted infection characterized by painful genital ulcers. This bacterium is particularly significant in regions with high rates of sexually transmitted infections, as it can facilitate the transmission of other pathogens, including HIV, due to the presence of ulcerative lesions that compromise the integrity of the skin and mucosal barriers. In terms of pathogenicity, H. ducreyi employs various strategies to evade the immune response of the host. It has been shown to produce factors that inhibit phagocytosis and modulate the host's inflammatory response, allowing it to persist and cause disease. The organism's ability to form biofilms may also contribute to its virulence and resistance to treatment. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern with H. ducreyi, as some strains have demonstrated resistance to commonly used antibiotics, complicating treatment options. The emergence of resistant strains underscores the need for ongoing surveillance and research into effective therapeutic strategies. While H. ducreyi is primarily associated with chancroid, it has also been implicated in other infections, such as soft tissue infections and bacteremia, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines for H. ducreyi, but research is ongoing to develop effective immunization strategies. Understanding the clinical implications of H. ducreyi is crucial for public health efforts aimed at controlling sexually transmitted infections and preventing their associated complications.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Haemophilus ducreyi is primarily associated with human hosts and is known for its role as the causative agent of chancroid, a sexually transmitted infection. This organism thrives in specific human-associated environments where it can exploit the conditions provided by the host's mucosal surfaces. Ecological Niches: Haemophilus ducreyi is typically found in the genital mucosa of infected individuals, where it can establish itself in the presence of other microbial flora. Its survival and proliferation are closely linked to the availability of nutrients and the local immune response of the host. Habitats: The primary habitat for Haemophilus ducreyi is the urethral and genital regions of humans, particularly in areas with high rates of sexual transmission. The organism is adapted to thrive in the moist, nutrient-rich environment of these tissues, which provides the necessary conditions for its growth. Interactions with Surroundings: Haemophilus ducreyi engages in notable interactions with the host's immune system, often evading immune responses through various mechanisms. This includes the ability to form biofilms and modulate local inflammation, which can facilitate its persistence in the host. Additionally, it may interact with other microbial species present in the genital microbiome, influencing the overall microbial community structure. In summary, Haemophilus ducreyi is a specialized pathogen that occupies a unique niche within the human genital tract, where it plays a significant role in the dynamics of sexually transmitted infections.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Haemophilus ducreyi is primarily known for its role as a pathogen causing chancroid, a sexually transmitted infection. However, its potential industrial applications are limited and not well-documented in the context of biotechnology or other industrial sectors. Unlike other microorganisms that are extensively utilized in biotechnology, waste management, or biofuel production, H. ducreyi does not have significant applications in these areas. While some bacteria are harnessed for their enzymatic activity or biodegradation capabilities, H. ducreyi has not been shown to contribute positively to these processes. Its primary relevance remains in the medical field, particularly in understanding infectious diseases and developing treatments. Therefore, the industrial applications of Haemophilus ducreyi are minimal and primarily focused on its pathogenic characteristics rather than beneficial industrial uses.

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	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-4o	google/gemini-pro-1.5	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/gemini-flash-1.5	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	google/gemma-7b-it	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	google/gemini-pro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	openai/gpt-4	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	openchat/openchat-7b	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct
Motility	N/A	false	false	false	false	true	false	false	false	true	false	false	true	false	true	false	true	false	true
Gram staining	gram stain negative	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓
Aerophilicity	aerobic	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	aerotolerant ✗	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	TRUE	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗	false ✗
Biofilm formation	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓
Animal pathogenicity	FALSE	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗
Biosafety level	N/A	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 2	biosafety level 2	biosafety level 2
Health association	N/A	true	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Host association	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	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 ✓
Spore formation	N/A	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false
Hemolysis	N/A	beta	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	beta	N/A	alpha	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 ✓	bacillus ✓	coccus ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	coccus ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	coccus ✗

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