Oligella urethralis

General Information

Oligella urethralis is a fascinating microorganism that belongs to the family Alcaligenaceae. This bacterium is particularly interesting due to its association with the human urinary tract, where it is often found. Despite its presence in clinical samples, Oligella urethralis is generally considered to be of low pathogenic potential, making it a subject of interest in studies of commensal bacteria and their interactions with human hosts. One of the unique aspects of Oligella urethralis is its ability to survive in the nutrient-limited environment of the urinary tract. This adaptability suggests that the bacterium has specialized mechanisms for nutrient acquisition and metabolism, which could be valuable in understanding microbial survival strategies in oligotrophic environments. From a research perspective, Oligella urethralis is valuable for its potential role in bioremediation. Some studies have indicated that members of the Alcaligenaceae family possess the ability to degrade various environmental pollutants. Although specific studies on Oligella urethralis are limited, its genetic and metabolic capabilities could be explored for applications in environmental cleanup. Additionally, the bacterium's genomic features are of interest. The genome of Oligella urethralis may harbor genes that contribute to its resilience and adaptability, providing insights into microbial evolution and the genetic basis of survival in diverse environments. Understanding these genetic traits can also shed light on the evolutionary relationships within the Alcaligenaceae family. In summary, Oligella urethralis is a noteworthy bacterium due to its association with the human urinary tract, potential bioremediation capabilities, and intriguing genomic features. These characteristics make it a valuable subject for research in microbial ecology, environmental science, and evolutionary biology.

Oligella urethralis is a fascinating bacterium that belongs to the family of Neisseriaceae. This organism is particularly notable for its association with the human urogenital tract, where it has been identified as a potential pathogen in certain clinical contexts. What makes Oligella urethralis unique is its ability to thrive in the human urethra, often being isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs). This highlights its potential role in urogenital health and disease, making it a subject of interest for researchers studying the microbiome of the urinary system. Another interesting aspect of Oligella urethralis is its biochemical characteristics. It is known to exhibit oxidase positivity, which is a trait that can help differentiate it from other similar organisms in clinical samples. This characteristic is particularly valuable in laboratory settings, where accurate identification of pathogens is crucial for effective treatment. Furthermore, Oligella urethralis has been studied for its antibiotic resistance patterns, which are increasingly important in the context of rising antibiotic resistance globally. Understanding the resistance mechanisms of this organism can provide insights into treatment options and inform public health strategies. In summary, Oligella urethralis stands out due to its clinical relevance, unique biochemical properties, and implications for antibiotic resistance, making it a valuable organism for ongoing research in microbiology and infectious diseases.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Pseudomonadota

Class: Betaproteobacteria

Order: Burkholderiales

Family: Alcaligenaceae

Genus: Oligella

Species: Oligella urethralis

NCBI ID

90245

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/033/172/025/GCA_033172025.1_ASM3317202v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_033172025.1_ASM3317202v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

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

The organism Oligella urethralis is a gram-negative bacillus that is part of the normal flora of the human urogenital tract. While it is generally considered non-pathogenic, it has been associated with certain infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients or those with underlying urological conditions. Clinical implications of Oligella urethralis include its potential role in urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacteremia, especially in individuals with indwelling catheters or other invasive devices. The organism's ability to form biofilms can contribute to its persistence in the urinary tract, complicating treatment efforts. In terms of antimicrobial resistance, Oligella urethralis has shown resistance to multiple antibiotics, which poses a challenge in clinical settings. This resistance is often attributed to the presence of plasmids that carry resistance genes, making it crucial for healthcare providers to consider susceptibility testing when treating infections caused by this organism. Furthermore, Oligella urethralis has been implicated in rare cases of endocarditis and soft tissue infections, highlighting its potential pathogenicity in specific contexts. Its interaction with the human immune system is not fully understood, but it may employ various immune evasion strategies to survive in hostile environments, such as the urogenital tract. Overall, while Oligella urethralis is not a common pathogen, its clinical relevance cannot be overlooked, particularly in vulnerable populations. Continued surveillance and research are necessary to better understand its role in human health and disease.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

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

Oligella urethralis is a bacterium commonly associated with the human urogenital tract, particularly in the urethra and bladder. This microorganism thrives in environments that are rich in nutrients and moisture, which are characteristic of the mucosal surfaces of the urinary system. Its presence is often linked to the normal flora of the urogenital area, where it plays a role in maintaining a balanced microbial community. In terms of ecological interactions, Oligella urethralis can exhibit commensal relationships with the host, contributing to the overall health of the urogenital microbiome. However, it can also be opportunistic, potentially leading to infections under certain conditions, such as when the host's immune system is compromised or when there is an imbalance in the microbial community. The adaptability of Oligella urethralis to the urinary environment is notable, as it can survive in varying pH levels and osmotic conditions, which are often encountered in the urogenital tract. This adaptability allows it to thrive in both healthy and diseased states, highlighting its role in the complex dynamics of the human microbiome. Overall, Oligella urethralis is an important component of the urogenital biome, contributing to both the health and potential pathogenesis within this specific ecological niche.

Industrial Application

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

The microorganism Oligella urethralis has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and waste management. This organism is known for its ability to thrive in human-associated environments, which opens avenues for its use in biodegradation processes, particularly in the treatment of wastewater containing organic pollutants. Its enzymatic activity can facilitate the breakdown of complex organic compounds, making it a candidate for enhancing the efficiency of waste treatment systems. In the realm of biotechnology, Oligella urethralis may be explored for its potential in fermentation processes, where it could contribute to the production of valuable metabolites. Although specific applications in biofuel production are not extensively documented, its metabolic pathways could be investigated for the conversion of biomass into biofuels, aligning with the growing interest in sustainable energy sources. Furthermore, the organism's role in the human microbiome suggests potential applications in pharmaceutical development, particularly in the formulation of probiotics or in the study of microbial interactions that could lead to novel therapeutic strategies. Overall, while research on Oligella urethralis is still emerging, its unique properties position it as a promising candidate for various industrial applications.

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	google/gemini-pro-1.5	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	google/gemini-pro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	google/gemma-7b-it	openchat/openchat-7b	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	google/gemini-flash-1.5	google/gemini-flash-1.5	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b
Motility	N/A	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false
Gram staining	gram stain negative	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain variable ✗	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	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	aerobic	facultatively anaerobic ✗	aerobic ✓	aerotolerant ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	anaerobic ✗	anaerobic ✗	aerobic ✓	aerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	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 ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	N/A	true	true	true	false	true	true	true	true	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	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 ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗
Biosafety level	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 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	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 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✗
Health association	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true
Host association	FALSE	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	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	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	gamma	gamma	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Cell shape	bacillus	coccus ✗	coccus ✗	coccus ✗	coccus ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	coccus ✗	bacillus ✓	coccus ✗	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	bacillus ✓	coccus ✗	coccus ✗	coccus ✗	coccus ✗

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