Fusobacterium varium

General Information

Fusobacterium varium is a noteworthy microorganism within the genus Fusobacterium. This bacterium is particularly interesting due to its association with various human diseases, including gastrointestinal disorders and systemic infections. One of the most significant aspects of F. varium is its role in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Studies have shown that F. varium can induce colonic inflammation, making it a critical subject of research for understanding the pathogenesis of these conditions. Additionally, F. varium has been implicated in colorectal cancer, where its presence in the gut microbiota may influence tumor development and progression. This association underscores the importance of F. varium in cancer research, particularly in exploring the microbiome's impact on cancer biology. From a clinical perspective, F. varium is also known for its involvement in extraintestinal infections, including liver abscesses and bacteremia. Its ability to thrive in diverse environments within the human body makes it a versatile pathogen and a challenging target for treatment. The metabolic capabilities of F. varium are another area of interest. This bacterium can produce various short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, which have significant implications for gut health and disease. The production of SCFAs by F. varium can influence the local environment in the gut, affecting both the host's immune response and the composition of the gut microbiota. In summary, Fusobacterium varium is a bacterium of considerable interest due to its association with inflammatory bowel diseases, colorectal cancer, and its metabolic activities. Its role in human health and disease makes it a valuable subject for ongoing research in microbiology and medical science.

Fusobacterium varium is a species of anaerobic bacteria that belongs to the genus Fusobacterium. This organism is particularly interesting due to its role in the human microbiome and its association with various health conditions. One of the most notable aspects of F. varium is its presence in the oral cavity, where it is part of the normal flora but can also be implicated in periodontal diseases. Its ability to thrive in anaerobic environments makes it a key player in the complex microbial communities found in the mouth and gut. Unique Metabolic Capabilities: F. varium is known for its unique metabolic pathways, particularly its ability to ferment a variety of carbohydrates and amino acids. This metabolic versatility allows it to adapt to different environments and contribute to the overall metabolic processes within the microbiome. Research Significance: The study of F. varium is valuable in understanding the interactions between oral bacteria and systemic health. Research has indicated potential links between this species and inflammatory conditions, making it a target for studies aimed at elucidating the mechanisms of disease progression in conditions such as atherosclerosis and diabetes. Its role in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are important for gut health and immune function, further underscores its significance in microbiome research. In summary, Fusobacterium varium stands out due to its dual role as a commensal organism and a potential pathogen, its unique metabolic capabilities, and its implications in health and disease, making it a compelling subject for ongoing microbiological and clinical research.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Fusobacteriota

Class: Fusobacteriia

Order: Fusobacteriales

Family: Fusobacteriaceae

Genus: Fusobacterium

Species: Fusobacterium varium

NCBI ID

856

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/037/901/015/GCF_037901015.1_ASM3790101v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_037901015.1_ASM3790101v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The bacterium Fusobacterium varium is a member of the normal flora of the human oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, but it has significant clinical implications due to its association with various diseases. It is primarily known for its role in periodontal disease, where it contributes to infections of the gums and surrounding tissues, leading to conditions such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Additionally, Fusobacterium varium has been implicated in systemic infections and has been isolated from cases of bacteremia, particularly in immunocompromised patients. One of the notable aspects of Fusobacterium varium is its pathogenicity, which is partly attributed to its ability to evade the immune response. This organism can produce various virulence factors, including endotoxins and enzymes that facilitate tissue invasion and damage. Furthermore, it has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease and has been detected in higher numbers in patients with conditions such as ulcerative colitis. In terms of antimicrobial resistance, Fusobacterium varium has shown resistance to several commonly used antibiotics, which complicates treatment options for infections caused by this organism. This resistance is often linked to the presence of specific resistance genes and the ability of the bacterium to form biofilms, which protect it from both the host immune system and antimicrobial agents. Despite its pathogenic potential, there is ongoing research into the medical applications of Fusobacterium varium and related species, particularly in the context of probiotics. Some studies suggest that certain strains may have beneficial effects on gut health, although more research is needed to fully understand their role and efficacy. Overall, the clinical relevance of Fusobacterium varium underscores the importance of understanding the balance between its commensal and pathogenic roles in human health.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Fusobacterium varium is a species of bacteria commonly found in the human gastrointestinal tract and is associated with various ecological niches within this environment. This microorganism thrives in the anaerobic conditions of the gut, where it plays a significant role in the breakdown of complex carbohydrates and proteins, contributing to the overall process of digestion. Its presence is particularly notable in the large intestine, where it interacts with other gut microbiota, forming a complex community that is essential for maintaining gut health. In addition to its role in digestion, Fusobacterium varium is known for its involvement in symbiotic relationships with other microorganisms. It can help in the fermentation of dietary fibers, producing short-chain fatty acids that are beneficial for the host's health. However, it can also be implicated in dysbiosis, a condition where the balance of gut microbiota is disrupted, potentially leading to various gastrointestinal diseases. Furthermore, Fusobacterium varium has been studied for its interactions with the immune system, where it may influence inflammatory responses. Its ability to adapt to the changing conditions of the gut environment, such as variations in pH and nutrient availability, highlights its ecological versatility. Overall, Fusobacterium varium exemplifies the intricate relationships within the gut microbiome, showcasing its importance in both health and disease states.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Fusobacterium varium has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and waste management. This anaerobic bacterium is known for its role in fermentation, where it can contribute to the breakdown of complex organic materials, making it valuable in the production of biofuels. For instance, Fusobacterium varium can be involved in the anaerobic digestion process, which is essential for converting organic waste into biogas, a renewable energy source. In the realm of pharmaceutical development, Fusobacterium varium has been studied for its metabolic capabilities, which may lead to the discovery of novel bioactive compounds. These compounds could have therapeutic applications, particularly in the treatment of various diseases. Moreover, the bacterium's ability to degrade certain substrates makes it a candidate for biodegradation processes, where it can help in the breakdown of environmental pollutants, thus contributing to waste management strategies. Its enzymatic activity can facilitate the degradation of complex organic pollutants, making it useful in bioremediation efforts. Overall, Fusobacterium varium presents a multifaceted potential in industrial applications, particularly in sustainable practices and innovative biotechnological solutions.

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: 9

LLM predicted phenotypes: 4

Phenotype	High-quality annotation	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	google/gemini-flash-1.5	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	google/gemma-7b-it	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	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	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	openchat/openchat-7b	openchat/openchat-7b	google/gemini-pro	google/gemini-pro
Motility	N/A	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true
Gram staining	gram stain negative	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain variable ✗	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	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	anaerobic	anaerobic ✓	aerotolerant ✗	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	FALSE	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 ✗	true ✗
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 ✓	true ✓	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 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 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓
Health association	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	true	false	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 ✓	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	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 ✓	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	beta	N/A	gamma	beta	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	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Cell shape	bacillus	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	coccus ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓

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