Legionella bononiensis

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Legend. Image credit: Name or Publication.

Classification

Bacteria; pseudomonadota; gammaproteobacterial; legionellales; legionellaceae; legionella; L.bononiensis [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]

Species

Legionella Bononiensis

Description and Significance

Legionella Bononiensis is a gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium that utilizes transitory flagella for locomotion. It was discovered in northern Italy where it was isolated from a hotel water distribution system. Do to the conditions required for growth it often grows in regulated man-made water systems or is found naturally in places with a more tropical climate.

Genome Structure

The size of Legionella Bononiensis' genome is between 3.3-3.5Mb with a G+C content of roughly 38%. It has one circular chromosome with roughly 3000 protein-coding genes which represents a coding capacity of 88%.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Legionella bononiensis has a thin sometimes filamentous membrane that has a bacillus like structure. It also is accompanied by a transitory flagellum that is used for locomotion. L. bononiensis derives its energy from amino acids instead of carbohydrates.

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Legionella bononiensis grows in water that is between 20oC-50 oC with an optimal temperature of 35 oC. It grows and survives through parasitic relationships with protozoa and biofilms with which it can infect. L. bononiensis is able to infect human cells with a mechanism similar to that which it uses to infect protozoa. The most common cause of infection is inhalation of water particles carrying L. bononiensis. Legionella infections most commonly lead to legionellosis which has similar symptoms to pneumonia.

References

Girolamini L, Pascale MR, Salaris S, Mazzotta M, Orsini M, Grottola A, Zini N, Cristino S. Legionella bononiensis sp. nov., isolated from a hotel water distribution system in northern Italy. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2022 Sep;72(9). doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005512. Erratum in: Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2023 Feb;73(2): PMID: 36173731.

Legionellosis. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/legionellosis.

Winn WC Jr. Legionella. In: Baron S, editor. Medical Microbiology. 4th edition. Galveston (TX): University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 1996. Chapter 40. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7619/

Author

Page authored by Isaac Mariano, student of Prof. Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington.