Paenibacillus

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Classification

Domain; Phylum; Class; Order; family [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Genus species

Habitat Information

Collected 9/5/2017 at 3pm CST, sunny day

Soil Type

SsC—Speck stony clay loam, 1-5% slopes, well drained

Description

Dry grassy area adjacent to an inhabited home, mostly shaded, not recently disturbed, beneath a disused plastic tumbling compost barrel.

GPS Location

30.18538 latitude, -97.9021722 longitude

Air Temperature

93 F

Solar Radiation

22.66 MJ/m2

Humidity

43%

Rainfall

0.00 inches

Pressure

30.03

Depth

2 inches

Description and Significance

Colony Morphology

Punctiform colonies, very transparent with a milky white color. The margin is entire, and the surface is glossy and convex, with no noticeable odor.

Cellular Morphology

Gram negative bacillus

Antibiotic Potential

Shows antibiotic potential with significant zones of inhibition in agar inoculated for confluence of both E. coli and S. aureus. Paenibacillus species are known to produce many strong antimicrobial lipopeptides including antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer and antiviral enzymes. [1]

Antibiotic/Disinfectant Resistance

Highly sensitive to the following antibiotics: Cefoxitin, Ceftazidime, Ticarcillin/Clavulanic Acid, Vancomycin, Ampicilin/Sulbactam. Resistant to the following disinfectants: rosemary, 10% bleach and 100% bleach. Sensitive to orange essential oil. Minimally sensitive to lavender.

Medicinal Significance

In an article published January 2016 in ‘Medicinal Research Reviews’ Paenibacillus species are described as among ‘A Gold Mine of Antibiotic Candidates’. Paenibacillus species produce a wide variety of lipopeptides that could be developed into antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer and antiviral drugs. There is limited research on these lipopeptides, but they are diverse, numerous, and potent. [1] Development of antibiotic resistance to lipopeptides is also known to be much slower. In addition to lipopeptides, Paenibacillus also produce two of the three types of bacteriocins. And some research suggests that their exopolysaccharides have potential as antioxidants, anti-tumour medication, and possibly even tooth decay preventors. [2]

Agricultural Significance

Many species produce antifungals and insecticides that protect plants from pathogens and insect herbivores. They can also stimulate the plant’s own resistance mechanisms. Several species produce enzymes that kill the larvae of beetles and lepidopterans. Additionally, they are known to promote crop growth via nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization and iron acquisition. Research suggests that Paenibacillus could be employed as a less expensive, more environmentally friendly fertilizer than many of the manufactured chemical phosphorus fertilizers used today. [2]

Industrial Significance

Although currently not used in any industry, certain species of Paenibacillus produce enzymes that could be used in detergents, biofuel, paper, textiles, and food manufacturing. Their potential benefit as a more stable, more productive, less expensive source of enzymes for industrial applications remains unstudied.

Pathogenic Significance

One species of Paenibacillus ‘’P. larvae’’ has been the subject of many studies because it causes American Foulbrood, a deadly disease that afflicts honeybees worldwide. American Foulbrood is the most destructive brood disease and is difficult to treat for multiple reasons, including antibiotic resistance. To prevent the spread of infection to neighboring bee colonies, bee keepers have to burn entire hives.

‘’Paenibacillus globratella’’ causes a highly contagious, deadly disease in snails. In tropical regions snails are a common vector for Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease of great public health concern in Africa. Thus, researchers hope ‘‘P. globratella’’ could be used as biocontrol agent for the spread of Schistosomiasis.

Paenibacillus species are also opportunistic pathogens in humans, more commonly affecting immunocompromised individuals. They are associated (correlated), but not shown to be the direct cause of chronic kidney disease, sickle cell disease, premature birth, Whipple’s disease, hydrocephalus, skin cancer, chronic interstitial nephropathy, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. All of these associations are thought to be opportunistic. [2]

Genome Structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Include S Ribosomal sequence that you obtained from PCR and sequencing here.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Cellular Morphology

Gram negative bacillus. Forms oval-shaped endospores slightly larger than its vegetative form. Motile, aerobic, and catalase positive.

Positive for starch hydrolysis, produces amylase.

Positive for bile esculin, hydrolyzes esculin in the presence of bile.

Weak alpha for partial hemolytic activity in a blood agar test.

Positive for growth in a 6.5% salt tolerance test.

Physiology and Pathogenesis

Biochemical characteristics, enzymes made, other characteristics that may be used to identify the organism; contributions to environment (if any).
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

References

[1] Cochrane, SA., Vederas, JC., “Lipopeptides from Bacillus and Paenibacillus spp.: A Gold Mind of Antibiotic Candidates.” “Medicinal Research Reviews” 2016. Volume 36. P. 4-31. [2] Grady, E., MacDonald, J., Liu, L., Richman, A., Yuan, Z. “Current knowledge and perspectives of Paenibacillus: a review”. “Microbial Cell Factories”. 2016. Volume 15. P 203.

Author

Page authored by Sarah Haley and Marissa Parks, student of Prof. Kristine Hollingsworth at Austin Community College.