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Aimee Davidson Bench E 23 Sept 2016

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria - Firmicutes - Negativicutes - Selenomonadales - Veillonellaceae - Veillonella ^[3]

Species

Species name: Veillonella parvula (subspecies parvula) ^[3]

Type strain: Te3 = ATCC 10790 = CCUG 5123 = DSM 2008 = JCM 12972 = NCTC 11810 ^[3]

Description and significance

Veillonella parvula is one of thirteen species of the Veillonella genus and one of only six of these species to be found within the human oral cavity^[6]. It was original dubbed Staphylococcus parvulus by Veillon and Zuber following its first isolation from an infected human appendix in 1898^[11]. It was subsequently renamed Veillonella parvula and further described in 1933 by Prevot^[11]. It is a small gram-negative cocci, typically between 0.3 to 0.5 microns in diameter, that can be identified by its characteristic pair grouping and distinctive red fluorescence under UV light and certain growth conditions^[4]. As mentioned previously it is commonly found within the human oral cavity, specifically on the tongue, buccal mucosa and in the saliva, however it can also be found within the human gastrointestinal, genitourinary and respiratory tracks^[5],^[7].

Scanning electron micrograph image of V. parvula^[5].

Genome structure

V. parvula exhibits a circular 2.13 Mb (2,132,142 bp) genome, of which 88.46 % is DNA encoding, and was the first member of the Veillonella family to have its complete genome sequenced. Its 1920 genes include: 1859 protein-encoding genes, 61 RNA specific genes and 15 pseduogenes, with an overall GC content of 38.63%. The majority of these genes are predicted to have either an unknown (385 genes) or general function (177 genes). Although those genes with a predicted function are predominately involved with: translation, ribosomal structure, cell wall or membrane biogenesis, energy production and conversion, amino acid, coenzyme and inorganic transport and metabolism ^[5].

Genome structure of V. parvula ^[5].

Cell structure and metabolism

Verkley et al established that 98 % of the phosphoglycerides that comprise V. parvula's cell membrane are either serine or ethanolamine based. These phosphoglycerides typically exist in single bonded carbon chains consisting of between 11 to 19 carbons, although chains containing 15,17,18 or 19 carbons atoms may also contain one double carbon bond ^[12]. Additionally many of these phosphoglycerides exist in a plasmogen form which is thought to have an important role in the regulation of the cell's membrane fluidity^[8],^[12]. The peptidoglycan cell wall of V. parvula consists of: glutamic acid in the D configuration; diaminopimelic acid in the meso configuration; and alpha-linked cadaverine and putrescine to glutamic acid^[5].

8 lactate &harr 5 propionate + 3 acetate + 3 CO2 + H2

Ecology

It is a strict anaerobe whose metabolic activity is centred upon the activity of the methylmalonyl-COA decarboxylase enzyme.

Pathology

V. parvula has a well established association with human oral diseases, in particular demonstrating a strong association with severe early childhood carries and intraradicular infections ^[5],^[6]. Recent research has also revealed that V. parvula is the predominant Veillonella species within dentine biofilms^[10]. Although V. parvula generally presents as a commensal or non-pathogenic resident in the bacterial communities of the oropharynx and the gastrointestinal, genitourinary and respiratory tracks ^[7], it has rarely been associated with a number of serious and life-threatening infections. These infections include: osteomyeltitis, spondylodiscitis, discitis, meningitis and sinus infections ^[7], ^[8]. It has demonstrated resistance against a wide range of antibiotics including: tetracycline, erythromycin, gentamicin, karamycin, chloramphenicol and lincomycin. Although importantly at the time of its genome sequencing in 2010 it was still susceptible to penicillin, cephalotin and clindamycin ^[5].

Application to biotechnology

Bioengineering, biotechnologically relevant enzyme/compound production, drug targets,…

Current research

Summarise some of the most recent discoveries regarding this species.

References

References examples

1. Sahm, K., MacGregor, B.J., Jørgensen, B.B., and Stahl, D.A. (1999) Sulphate reduction and vertical distribution of sulphate-reducing bacteria quantified by rRNA slotblot hybridization in a coastal marine sediment. Environ Microbiol 1: 65-74.

2. Human Oral Microbiome

3. List of prokaryotic names with standing in nomenclature

5. Sabine Gronow, Sabine Welnitz, Alla Lapidus,2 Matt Nolan,2 Natalia Ivanova,2 Tijana Glavina Del Rio,2 Alex Copeland,2 Feng Chen,2 Hope Tice,2 Sam Pitluck,2 Jan-Fang Cheng,2 Elizabeth Saunders,2,3 Thomas Brettin,2,3 Cliff Han,2,3 John C. Detter,2,3 David Bruce,2,3 Lynne Goodwin,2,3 Miriam Land,2,4 Loren Hauser,2,4 Yun-Juan Chang,2,4 Cynthia D. Jeffries,2,4 Amrita Pati,2 Konstantinos Mavromatis,2 Natalia Mikhailova,2 Amy Chen,5 Krishna Palaniappan,5 Patrick Chain,2,3 Manfred Rohde,6 Markus Göker,1 Jim Bristow,2 Jonathan A. Eisen,2,7 Victor Markowitz,5 Philip Hugenholtz,2 Nikos C. Kyrpides,2, Hans-Peter Klenk,1 and Susan Lucas2 (2010) Complete genome sequence of Veillonella parvula type strain (Te3). Stand Genomic Sci 2(1): 65-74.

6. Izumi Mashima,1,2 Citra Fragrantia Theodorea,2,3 Boonyanit Thaweboon,4 Sroisiri Thaweboon,4 and Futoshi Nakazawa2 (2016) Identification of Veillonella Species in the Tongue Biofilm by Using a Novel One-Step Polymerase Chain Reaction Method. PLoS One. 11(6):e0157516

7. Chen YC, Ko PH, Yang CJ, Chen YC, Tsai CC, Hsieh MH (2014) Epidural abscess caused by Veillonella parvula: Case report and review of the literature. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. pii:S1684-1182(14)00098-X

8. Bhatti MA, Frank MO (2000) Veillonella parvula meningitis: case report and review of Veillonella infections. Clin Infect Dis. 31(3):839-40.

10. Thuy Do, Sheehy EC, Tonnie M, Hughes F, Beighton D (2015) Transcriptomic analysis of three Veillonella spp. present in carious dentine and in the saliva of caries-free individuals. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 5</b:25.

11. Delwiche EA, Pestka JJ, Tortorello ML (1985) The veillonellae: gram-negative cocci with a unique physiology. Ann. Rev. Microbiol 39:175-93

12. Verkley AJ, Ververgaert PH, Prins RA, van Golde LM (1975) Lipid-phase transitions of the strictly anaerobic bacteria Veillonella parvula and Anaerovibrio lipolytica. J Bacteriol 124(3):1522-8

13. Ng SK, Hamilton IR. (1971) Lactate metabolism by Veillonella parvula. J Bacteriol. 105(3):999-1005

This page is written by Aimee Davidson for the MICR3004 course, Semester 2, 2016