Rickettsia felis: Difference between revisions
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“Rickettsia felis” is an obligate intracellular parasite that was first isolated from cat fleas. It is a gram-negative bacteria that was that differs from Rickettsia typhi by only 32 nucleotide differences3. It was identified in patients clinically diagnosed with murine typhus4. It was originally thought to be a member of the typhus group of rickettsiae, but upon sequencing was found to be closer to the spotted fever group of rickettsiae5. | “Rickettsia felis” is an obligate intracellular parasite that was first isolated from cat fleas. It is a gram-negative bacteria that was that differs from Rickettsia typhi by only 32 nucleotide differences3. It was identified in patients clinically diagnosed with murine typhus4. It was originally thought to be a member of the typhus group of rickettsiae, but upon sequencing was found to be closer to the spotted fever group of rickettsiae5. | ||
[[Image:R. Felis image.jpg|frame|none|image from www.plosbio.org]] | |||
==Genome structure== | ==Genome structure== |
Revision as of 06:18, 31 May 2007
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Rickettsia felis
Classification
Higher order taxa
cellular organisms; Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Alphaproteobacteria; Rickettsiales; Rickettsiaceae; Rickettsieae; Rickettsia; spotted fever group1
Species
Rickettsia felis
NCBI: Taxonomy |
Description and significance
“Rickettsia felis” is an obligate intracellular parasite that was first isolated from cat fleas. It is a gram-negative bacteria that was that differs from Rickettsia typhi by only 32 nucleotide differences3. It was identified in patients clinically diagnosed with murine typhus4. It was originally thought to be a member of the typhus group of rickettsiae, but upon sequencing was found to be closer to the spotted fever group of rickettsiae5.
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? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?
Cell structure and metabolism
Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
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
Edited by student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano