Micrococcus luteus: Difference between revisions

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==Ecology and Pathogenesis==
==Ecology and Pathogenesis==
Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.<br>
''M. luteus'' is present on human skin and it forms a commensal relationship here. Under normal conditions ''M. luteus'' is non-pathogenic and has low virulence factors. However, it is also considered an opportunistic pathogen. This means that it can cause infections in immunocompromised patients or those with poor hygiene. ''M. luteus'' has been linked with several illnesses including meningitis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, chronic cutaneous infections in HIV positive patients, and catheter infections. <br><br>
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.<br><br>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 17:52, 15 November 2022

This student page has not been curated.
A scanning electron microscope image of Micrococcus luteus. Image credit: Janice Haney Carr, CDC.

Classification

Bacteria; Terrabacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinomycetia; Micrococcales; Micrococcaceae; Micrococcus

Species

NCBI: [1]

Micrococcus luteus

Description and Significance

Micrococcus luteus is a oligotrophic bacteria that can be found on the skin of humans and other mammals, some foods, soil, and water. This aerobic microorganism can withstand severe and unfavorable conditions, but is not spore-forming. Instead it uses resuscitation promoting factor (Rpf) to revive itself from dormancy.

M. luteus is considered part of the normal microbiota and plays a role in breaking down the compounds in sweat which produces body-odor.

Genome Structure

The “Fleming strain,” NCTC2665, is a single circular chromosome. It is one of the smallest actinobacterial genomes ever sequenced. It has 2,501,097 base pairs and G+C content of 73%. It Is thought that it can encode for 2,403 proteins. Despite its small size it contains 73 insertion sequence (IS) elements. However, it only encodes for four sigma factors and 14 response regulators. It is predicted that this is a result of keeping a strict niche of mammalian skin.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology and Pathogenesis

M. luteus is present on human skin and it forms a commensal relationship here. Under normal conditions M. luteus is non-pathogenic and has low virulence factors. However, it is also considered an opportunistic pathogen. This means that it can cause infections in immunocompromised patients or those with poor hygiene. M. luteus has been linked with several illnesses including meningitis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, chronic cutaneous infections in HIV positive patients, and catheter infections.

References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

Author

Page authored by Brittney Moore, student of Prof. Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington.