Treponema pallidum: Difference between revisions
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Treponema pallidum is a gram negative bacteria. It is a spirochete meaning that is is helical in shape. As with all gram negative bacteria, it has an inner and outer membrane which contains within them a thin layer of peptidoglycan which provides structural stability. T. pallidum lacks lipopolysaccharide, the endotoxin found in the outer membranes of many gram-negative bacteria. The pathogenic strain of T. pallidum have a capsule-like outer coat absent in the nonpathogenic strain. | Treponema pallidum is a gram negative bacteria. It is a spirochete meaning that is is helical in shape. As with all gram negative bacteria, it has an inner and outer membrane which contains within them a thin layer of peptidoglycan which provides structural stability. T. pallidum lacks lipopolysaccharide, the endotoxin found in the outer membranes of many gram-negative bacteria. The pathogenic strain of T. pallidum have a capsule-like outer coat absent in the nonpathogenic strain. | ||
The most interesting aspect of T. pallidum sturcture is that within the periplasmic space are endoflagella which are responsible for T. pallidum's motility. | The most interesting aspect of T. pallidum sturcture is that within the periplasmic space are endoflagella which are responsible for T. pallidum's motility. | ||
Treponema pallidum is small with a small genome, therefore it is intuitive that it has a relatively simple metabolism. T. pallidum is able to carry out glycolysis but lacks the enzymes require for the Krebs cycle and also lacks an electron transport chain. T. pallidum is able to perform the interconversion of amino acids and fatty acids but is deficient in amino acid and fatty acid synthesis pathways. After analysis of the T. pallidum genome it is thought that the organism lacks the pathways for energy production via alternative carbon sources. | |||
==Ecology== | ==Ecology== | ||
Revision as of 19:29, 1 May 2007
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Treponema pallidum
Classification
Higher order taxa
Eubacteria; Spirochaetes; Spirochaetes; Spirochaetales; Spirochaetaceae; Treponema
Species
Treponema pallidum, T. pertenue, T. endemicum
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Description and significance
Treponema pallidum is a spiral shaped flexible bacteria about 0.1-0.18 µm in diameter and 6-20 µm long which is the disease causing agent of syphilis. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease which was first discovered in Europe near the end of the fifteenth century. The causative agent, T. pallidum, was not identified until 1905. Although treatments are available, syphilis remains a health problem throughout the world. The virulent strain of T. pallidum was first isolated 1912 from a neurosyphilitic patient.
Genome structure
Treponema pallidum has a double stranded circular DNA genome with a lenght of 1,138,011 nt. It contains 1095 genes which encode 1036 proteins. It contains 51 structural RNAs and no plasmids. The sequence of T. pallidum was completed in 2001.
Cell structure and metabolism
Treponema pallidum is a gram negative bacteria. It is a spirochete meaning that is is helical in shape. As with all gram negative bacteria, it has an inner and outer membrane which contains within them a thin layer of peptidoglycan which provides structural stability. T. pallidum lacks lipopolysaccharide, the endotoxin found in the outer membranes of many gram-negative bacteria. The pathogenic strain of T. pallidum have a capsule-like outer coat absent in the nonpathogenic strain. The most interesting aspect of T. pallidum sturcture is that within the periplasmic space are endoflagella which are responsible for T. pallidum's motility.
Treponema pallidum is small with a small genome, therefore it is intuitive that it has a relatively simple metabolism. T. pallidum is able to carry out glycolysis but lacks the enzymes require for the Krebs cycle and also lacks an electron transport chain. T. pallidum is able to perform the interconversion of amino acids and fatty acids but is deficient in amino acid and fatty acid synthesis pathways. After analysis of the T. pallidum genome it is thought that the organism lacks the pathways for energy production via alternative carbon sources.
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
Rebecca E. LaFond and Sheila A. Lukehart "Biological Basis for Syphilis" Departments of Pathobiology, Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 2006 American Society for Microbiology
Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum str. Nichols (Project ID: 5) at US DOE Joint Genome Institute http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=5
Edited by Jasmin Eshragh, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.
