Acinetobacter baumannii: Difference between revisions
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==Description and significance== | ==Description and significance== | ||
''Acinetobacter baumannii'', previously named Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, is an opportunistic pathogen found in soil and water. One of the first Acientobacter found in soil was discovered in 1911 by M.W. Beijerinck. In the 1970s A. baumannii was susceptible to common antibiotics, but has now developed into a multidrug-resistant bacteria, capable of acquiring resistant genes. One of the first antibiotic resistant strains of A. baumannii called carbapenem-resistant A. baumanni (CRAB) was isolated in May 1998 from a leukemia patient. A. baumanni generally affects patients with low immune systems, which has caused nosocomial infections and major concerns in hospitals given the ability of A. baumannii to live on a variety of hospital surfaces such as surgical drains and catheters. Recently, there has been a growing number of blood stream infections caused by multidrug resitant A. baumanni among service members of the Iraq and Afghanistan military operations: Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, respectively. Blood stream infections caused by A. buamnni include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and septicaemia. Since A. buamanni has become more difficult to treat due to its increasing resitance to antibiotics such as carbapenem, beta-lactam, and tetracycline understanding its genomic sequence is essential to effectively treat infections and preventing A. buamanni transfer and growth on hospital surfaces. | ''Acinetobacter baumannii'', previously named ''Acinetobacter calcoaceticus'', is an opportunistic pathogen found in soil and water. One of the first ''Acientobacter'' found in soil was discovered in 1911 by M.W. Beijerinck. In the 1970s ''A. baumannii'' was susceptible to common antibiotics, but has now developed into a multidrug-resistant bacteria, capable of acquiring resistant genes. One of the first antibiotic resistant strains of ''A. baumannii'' called carbapenem-resistant A. baumanni (CRAB) was isolated in May 1998 from a leukemia patient. ''A. baumanni'' generally affects patients with low immune systems, which has caused nosocomial infections and major concerns in hospitals given the ability of ''A. baumannii'' to live on a variety of hospital surfaces such as surgical drains and catheters. Recently, there has been a growing number of blood stream infections caused by multidrug resitant ''A. baumanni'' among service members of the Iraq and Afghanistan military operations: Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, respectively. Blood stream infections caused by A. buamnni include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and septicaemia. Since ''A. buamanni'' has become more difficult to treat due to its increasing resitance to antibiotics such as carbapenem, beta-lactam, and tetracycline understanding its genomic sequence is essential to effectively treat infections and preventing ''A. buamanni'' transfer and growth on hospital surfaces. | ||
==Genome structure== | ==Genome structure== |
Revision as of 14:17, 4 June 2007
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Acinetobacter baumannii
Classification
Higher order taxa
Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Gammaproteobacteria; Pseudomonadales; Moraxellaceae; Acinetobacter
Species
NCBI: Taxonomy |
Acinetobacter baumannii
Description and significance
Acinetobacter baumannii, previously named Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, is an opportunistic pathogen found in soil and water. One of the first Acientobacter found in soil was discovered in 1911 by M.W. Beijerinck. In the 1970s A. baumannii was susceptible to common antibiotics, but has now developed into a multidrug-resistant bacteria, capable of acquiring resistant genes. One of the first antibiotic resistant strains of A. baumannii called carbapenem-resistant A. baumanni (CRAB) was isolated in May 1998 from a leukemia patient. A. baumanni generally affects patients with low immune systems, which has caused nosocomial infections and major concerns in hospitals given the ability of A. baumannii to live on a variety of hospital surfaces such as surgical drains and catheters. Recently, there has been a growing number of blood stream infections caused by multidrug resitant A. baumanni among service members of the Iraq and Afghanistan military operations: Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, respectively. Blood stream infections caused by A. buamnni include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and septicaemia. Since A. buamanni has become more difficult to treat due to its increasing resitance to antibiotics such as carbapenem, beta-lactam, and tetracycline understanding its genomic sequence is essential to effectively treat infections and preventing A. buamanni transfer and growth on hospital surfaces.
Genome structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?
Cell structure and metabolism
Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Ecology
Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.
Pathology
How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
Application to Biotechnology
Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?
Current Research
Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required
References
Edited by student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano