Fusobacterium necrophorum

General Information

Fusobacterium necrophorum is a fascinating and significant bacterium, particularly known for its role in human and animal health. This anaerobic, non-spore-forming bacterium is part of the normal flora of the oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and female genital tract. However, it can become pathogenic under certain conditions, leading to severe infections. One of the most notable diseases caused by F. necrophorum is Lemierre's syndrome, a rare but life-threatening condition characterized by thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein, often following a sore throat. This syndrome highlights the bacterium's ability to invade and cause systemic infections, making it a subject of intense medical interest. In veterinary medicine, F. necrophorum is known for causing necrotic infections such as foot rot in cattle and sheep, and liver abscesses in ruminants. These infections can lead to significant economic losses in the livestock industry, underscoring the bacterium's impact on animal health and agriculture. From a research perspective, F. necrophorum is intriguing due to its production of various virulence factors, including leukotoxins and hemagglutinins, which contribute to its pathogenicity. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing targeted therapies and preventive measures. Moreover, the bacterium's ability to form biofilms and its resistance to certain antibiotics pose challenges in clinical treatment, prompting ongoing research into effective antimicrobial strategies. The study of F. necrophorum also provides insights into the complex interactions between host and pathogen, particularly in the context of anaerobic infections. In summary, Fusobacterium necrophorum is a highly significant bacterium in both human and veterinary medicine, with unique pathogenic mechanisms and substantial implications for health and disease management. Its role in severe infections and economic impact on livestock make it a critical subject for ongoing research and clinical attention.

Fusobacterium necrophorum is a Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium that is part of the normal flora of the human oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. This organism is particularly interesting due to its role in various human infections, notably Lemierre's syndrome, which is characterized by septic thrombophlebitis and can lead to serious complications if not treated promptly. Its ability to cause severe infections in otherwise healthy individuals highlights its pathogenic potential. One of the unique aspects of F. necrophorum is its association with necrobacillosis, a condition that can lead to tissue necrosis and abscess formation, particularly in the head and neck region. This bacterium is also known for its metabolic versatility, allowing it to thrive in low-oxygen environments and utilize a variety of substrates for growth, which makes it a subject of interest in studies related to anaerobic metabolism. From a research perspective, F. necrophorum is valuable for understanding the mechanisms of anaerobic infections and the interactions between host immune responses and microbial virulence factors. The study of its virulence factors, such as leukotoxin, provides insights into how this organism evades the immune system and contributes to disease progression. Furthermore, its role in polymicrobial infections makes it a key player in understanding complex microbial communities and their impact on human health. Overall, Fusobacterium necrophorum serves as an important model organism for studying anaerobic bacteria, their pathogenic mechanisms, and their interactions within the human microbiome.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Fusobacteriota

Class: Fusobacteriia

Order: Fusobacteriales

Family: Fusobacteriaceae

Genus: Fusobacterium

Species: Fusobacterium necrophorum

NCBI ID

859

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/003/812/825/GCF_003812825.1_ASM381282v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_003812825.1_ASM381282v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The bacterium Fusobacterium necrophorum is a significant pathogen associated with various clinical conditions, particularly in humans. It is primarily known for its role in causing Lemierre's syndrome, a rare but serious condition characterized by thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein, which can lead to septic emboli and severe complications. This organism is also implicated in necrobacillosis, which can manifest as oral infections, throat infections, and abscesses in various body sites, including the liver and lungs. Fusobacterium necrophorum is part of the normal flora of the human oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract; however, it can become pathogenic under certain conditions, such as immunosuppression or oral trauma. Its pathogenicity is partly attributed to its ability to evade the immune response through various mechanisms, including the production of virulence factors that inhibit phagocytosis and promote tissue destruction. In terms of antimicrobial resistance, Fusobacterium necrophorum has shown resistance to several commonly used antibiotics, which complicates treatment options. This resistance is often due to the production of beta-lactamases and other mechanisms that confer survival advantages in the presence of antimicrobial agents. Despite its pathogenic potential, there is ongoing research into the use of Fusobacterium necrophorum in medical applications, particularly in the development of probiotics and therapeutics aimed at modulating the human microbiome. Understanding the dual role of this organism as both a commensal and a pathogen is crucial for developing effective treatment strategies and preventive measures against infections associated with it.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Fusobacterium necrophorum has several notable industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and waste management. This anaerobic bacterium is primarily known for its role in biodegradation, where it contributes to the breakdown of complex organic materials in anaerobic environments. This capability is particularly useful in the treatment of organic waste, as it helps in the decomposition of waste products, thereby reducing the volume of waste and mitigating environmental impact. In the context of biofuel production, Fusobacterium necrophorum can be involved in the fermentation of organic substrates, leading to the generation of biogas. The bacterium's ability to ferment various carbohydrates can be harnessed to produce methane, a valuable biofuel, through anaerobic digestion. This process not only aids in waste management but also contributes to renewable energy production. Moreover, Fusobacterium necrophorum has been studied for its potential in pharmaceutical development. Its metabolic pathways can be explored for the production of bioactive compounds, which may have therapeutic applications. The enzymatic activities of this microorganism can be utilized in the synthesis of specific metabolites that could lead to the development of new drugs or treatments. Overall, the applications of Fusobacterium necrophorum in biodegradation, anaerobic digestion, and potential pharmaceutical uses highlight its significance in various industrial sectors, making it a valuable organism for future research and application.

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	google/gemini-pro-1.5	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	google/gemini-flash-1.5	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	google/gemini-pro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	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	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	false	true	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false
Gram staining	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 ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	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 ✓
Aerophilicity	anaerobic	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	anaerobic ✓	anaerobic ✓	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 ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	N/A	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
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 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	true	true	true	true	true
Host association	FALSE	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 ✗
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	beta	beta	beta	beta	beta	beta	beta	beta	beta	beta	beta	beta	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
Cell shape	bacillus	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 ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓

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