Mycobacterium smegmatis

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Mycobacterium smegmatis

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinobacteridae; Actinomycetales; Corynebacterineae; Mycobacteriaceae; Mycobacterium

Genus

Mycobacterium. Included are Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprea.

NCBI: Taxonomy

Description and significance

Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. Describe how and where it was isolated. Include a picture or two (with sources) if you can find them.

Bacillus licheniformis is a bacterium that is commonly found in soil and bird feathers. Birds that tend to stay on the ground more than the air (i.e. sparrows) and on the water (i.e. ducks) are common carriers of this bacterium; it is mostly found around the bird's chest area and back plumage.

Bacillus licheniformis is part of the subtilis group along with Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus. These bacteria are commonly known to cause food poisoning and food spoilage. Bacillus licheniformis also is known for contaminating dairy products. Food borne outbreaks usually involve cases of cooked meats and vegetables, raw milk, and industrially produced baby food contaminated with Bacillus licheniformis.

Genome structure

The genome is 6,988,209 nucleotides long. It has a 67% GC content and a 33% AT content. 90% of the genome represents coding regions that encode for 6718 proteins. There are 6938 genes that are composed circularly.

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

Although Mycobacterium smegmatis is in the class Actinobacteria, it doesn't have a gram positive cell structure. Instead, the cell structure is characterized by being acid fast. It contains a very thick cell wall which contains the mycolic acids characteristic of acid fast bacteria. Although it contains the similar structural features of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, it grows much quicker in comparison. Mycobacterium smegmatis is an aerobic organism.

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

Dastur, A., Kumar, P., Ramesh, S., Vasanthakrishna, M., Varshney, U. "Analysis of the initiator tRNA genes from a slow- and a fast-growing Mycobacterium" Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560 012, India. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12209262&dopt=Abstract

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

Edited by Benjamin Yip, student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano