Neorickettsia risticii

Ex. Potomac Horse Fever

Characteristics of the pathogen

Neorickettsia risticii is a member of the Erlichiaea family of bacteria. It is a gram-negative, coccus, and obligate bacterium.

The genome for Neorickettsia risticii was fully sequenced in 2009. The Neorickettsia risticii strain sequenced was the Illinois strain, which consists of one circular chromosome that has 879,977 base pairs, with a GC content of 41.3%. This chromosome encodes for 38 different RNA species, including a 16s RNA, and 898 different proteins.

Characteristics of the host

What host/s is/are involved? Is there host specificity? Are there secondary reservoirs?

Life Cycle of Potomac Horse Fever [1]

Host-Symbiont Interaction

The interaction between N. risticii and the horse is a pathogenic one. Infection of a horse with N. risticii causes Potomac Horse Fever, an acute and potentially fatal disease.

N. risticii uses a trematode, like a mayfly or caddisfly, to survive and proliferate. It is through ingestion of one of these aquatic vectors that the horse becomes infected with N. risticii and contracts Potomac Horse Fever.

Once inside the horse,the bacteria colonizes in the epithelial cells of the horses intestines and causes many adverse symptoms such as anorexia, fever, diarrhea, lethargy, and in some cases laminitis.

Molecular Insights into the Symbiosis

Describe molecular/genetic studies on the symbiosis.

Ecological and Evolutionary Aspects

What is the evolutionary history of the interaction? Do particular environmental factors play a role in regulating the symbiosis?

Recent Discoveries

Describe two findings on the symbiosis published within the last two years.

References

[Sample reference] [[2] Seemanapalli SV, Xu Q, McShan K, Liang FT. 2010. Outer surface protein C is a dissemination-facilitating factor of Borrelia burgdorferi during mammalian infection. PLoS One 5:e15830.]

Edited by [Sierra Wangensteen], students of Grace Lim-Fong