Bartonella quintana

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Bartonella quintana

Classification

Gram-negative rod shape

Higher order taxa

Domain:Bacteria, Phylum: Proteobacteria, Class: Alpha Proteobacteria, Order: Rhizobiales, Family: Bartonellacaea

Edited by Rani Thamawatanakul, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.

Genus

Genus species: Bartonella Quintana

NCBI: Taxonomy

Edited by Rani Thamawatankul, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.

Description and significance

Bartonella quintana was formally classified in the Rickettsiaceae family as the obligately intracellular (cannot reproduce outside the host cell) Rochalimaea quintana (28). The difference between Rickettsia and Rochalimaea was the chemical composition in their genomic structure. Rickettsia species have a low level of guanine and cytosine (28.5 – 33.3 mol%) but Rochalimaea and Bartonella species have a higher level (39.0 – 40.0 mol%). The description of these species has increased by the availability of modern taxonomic methods. Few techniques would include DNA hybridization and 16 rRNA gene sequence comparison (4).

B. quintana as opposed to related species, B. bacilliformis and B. clarrideiae that posses flagella uses a twitching movement caused by fimbriae. B.quintana is a facultative, Gram-negative bacilli belonging to 2 subgroup of proteobacteria. The dimensions of the bacterium is 0.3 – 0,5 m wide and 1-1.7 m long (7). It can be cultured in media containing blood or hemin and in a moist 5-10% carbon dioxide atmosphere at 30C to 37C (5). Because B. quintana is a slow-growing bacterium, primary isolations are available 12 to 14 days after B. quintana has been embedded and incubated in blood agar at 37C. Unfortunately, incubation periods could last as long as 45 days that is necessary for primary isolations (3).

Humans are the reservoir of the bacterium but the mode of transmission comes directly from a human body louse, Pediculus humanus corporis (20). During asymptomatic period, B. quintana is located in the erythrocytes and has been detected in erythroblasts at the bone marrow (12). Also, bacillary angiomatosis infection is caused by B. quintana having an affinity for endothelial cells, leading to angioproliferative lesions (13).

Currently, B. quintana is unique among bacterial pathogens it has reemerged as an opportunistic infectious agent primarily in immunocompromised patients, especially individuals suffering with HIV infection. It also causes a febrile disease among alcoholic individuals and the homeless populations in the cities in United States and Europe called “urban trench fever” (11). B. quintana infections can manifest as bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis, endocarditis, and chronic bacteremia, which could be life-threatening if these conditions occurred concurrently (7).

Edited by Rani Thamawatankul, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.

Genome structure

B. quintana’s genome is composed of a single circular chromosome containing 1,581,384 bp. In addition, 1,308 genes that have been identified only but 26 genes are unique to B. quintana. It has been recently discovered that the genome sequence of B. quintana is a derivative of the larger 1.9 Mb genome of B. henselae. B. quintana does not contain genomic islands coding for filamentous hemgglutinin found in B. henselae (14). Southern blots indicated that all five pathogenic Bartonella spp. posses hbpA homlogs, which encodes an integral membrane protein localized at the outer membrane and surface exposed. HbpA is the first potential virulence determinant characterized from B. quintana (18). In addition, both B. quintana and B. henselae genomes are shortened versions of chromosome 1 from the highly related pathogen Brucella melitensis (14).

Edited by Rani Thamawatankul, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.

Cell structure and metabolism

Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

The genome reveals factors mediating coaggregation, cell signaling, and stress protection. It has a spiral shape and is arranged in singles. It is a mobile organism but does not contain any endospores. Motility is by rapid rotation around the long axis, flexation of the cell and locomotion along a helical path. The most distinctive property is the presence of periplasmic flagella wound around the helical protoplasmic cylinder and encased in an outer sheath.

Edited by Neena Patel, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

Pathology

Treponema denticola is a bacterial pathogen and plant plastid. It causes periodontal disease and gum inflammation.

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Edited by Neena Patel, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.

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

example:

Glockner, F. O., M. Kube, M. Bauer, H. Teeling, T. Lombardot, W. Ludwig, D. Gade, A. Beck, K Borzym, K Heitmann, R. Rabus, H. Schlesner, R. Amann, and R. Reinhardt. 2003. "Complete genome sequence of the marine planctomycete Pirellula sp. strain 1." Proceedings of the National Acedemy of Sciences, vol. 100, no. 14. (8298-8303)

Edited by student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano