Alistipes finegoldii

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Classification

Figure 1--Alistipes finegoldii electron microscopic image Intellectual property rights: © HZI/Manfred Rohde

Higher order taxa

Domain: Bacteria

Phylum: Bacteroidota

Class: Bacteroidia

Order: Bacteroidales

Family: Rikenellaceae [1]

Species

Alistipes finegoldii NCBI: Taxonomy

Description and Significance

Alistipes finegoldii is a commensal anaerobe that is gram-negative, rod-shaped, and non spore forming bacteria [2] that are found primarily in the gastrointestinal tract [2]. Alistipes finegoldii was first discovered in 2003 by Sydney M. Finegold, a researcher of anaerobic bacteriology [2]. The species was subsequently named after him. Alistipes is a relatively new genus of bacteria and the first species, Alistipes finegoldii, was found in tissue samples of children with appendicitis [4]. So far, the Alistipes genus contains 13 species, all of which besides A.obesi are non-motile [2]. The discovery of Alistipes finegoldii bacteria has become essential in clinical research, as it has been shown to have both possible protective effects against diseases and pathogenetic dysbiotic effects. Studying Alistipes finegoldii can provide more insight on the relationship of bacteria-host symbiosis in the gut and other areas of the body as well. Furthermore, its continuous study will contribute to how we understand Alistipes finegoldii and its relationship to human health [2]. Because Alistipes finegoldii are bile-resistant, they are more likely to be present in the terminal ileum where most bile reabsorption occurs and where chronic inflammatory bowel conditions are more likely to occur [2]. Because of how recent the discovery of Alistipes is, more studies will need to be done to determine if bile-resistance is the reason Alistipes is abundant within the GI tract or in diseases that are characterized by alterations in bile production [2].

Genome Structure

Figure 2--Graphical map of Alistipes finegoldii chromosome [3]

Alistipes finegoldii (type-strain AHN2437T [3,12]) was the first species of the Alistipes genus whose genome was completely sequenced. This bacteria consists of 1 circular chromosome and is 3,734,239 bp in length [3]. Of the 3,302 total genes, 3,234 of them are protein coding and 68 are RNA genes [3]. Additionally, 121 pseudogenes were found [3]. Alistipes finegoldii’s coding region is 86.89% of its genome, 56.5% of which is its G+C content [1,3].

The Alistipes finegoldii genome was selected for sequencing as the first species in the Alistipes genus classified in 2003 [3,11]. 16S rDNA sequencing studies showed that Alistipes finegoldii clustered with Alistipes putredinis in the Bacteroidetes group [12]. In a 16S rRNA gene sequence of Alistipes finegoldii, it was found that Alistipes shahii and Alistipes onderdonkii yielded the highest scores, with a divergence of less than 3% and a match with Alistipes finegoldii at approximately 97% [3,11]. These genomic divergences tell us that Alistipes finegoldii has a distinct role and carries out different functions as compared to other species of the Alistipes genus.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces; how it forms colonies in groups or ind dep on media; surface structures? ; . Isolated in anaerobic env,, ,explain .... Rod-shaped non motile gram negative bacteria with an incubation period of 1-2 days. Strictly anaerobic, indole-positive, metabolism is fermentative / mesophilic (describe little more)

finegoldii species produce succinic acid as a principle metabolic end product of glucose fermentation (11) describe the metabolism , is it unusual? .

fatty acid biosynth info diff compared to other gut microbes..relate to articles ...

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

(talk about how it can be become pathogenic in some cases or protective, it metabolism, insert pic from one of the main studies, etc.

Alistipes finegoldii is found ubiquitously in the gastrointestinal tract...... There is contrasting evidence regarding Alistipes pathogenicity. Recent studies show that there are links between Alistipes and the protection against colitis, liver fibrosis (cirrhosis), and cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, different studies have found that Alistipes is the pathogen responsible for colorectal cancer and is linked to mental health issues such as depression. (explain each case) T

ecology part describe how its prepped in the lab and the env it grows in, how it mimics this env, ecological advantage?