Enterobacter aerogenes
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Enterobacter aerogenes
Classification
Higher order taxa
Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Gammaproteobacteria; Enterobacteriales; Enterobacteriaceae; Enterobacter
Species
Enterobacter aerogenes
Description and significance
The family Enterobacteriaceae includes genera of Escherichia, Shigella, Salmonella, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Serratia, Proteus, and others. The family consists of large, gram-negative rods (motile with peritrichous flagella or nonmotile) which are non spore forming; grow both aerobically and anaerobically; are active biochemically; ferment (versus oxidize) D-glucose as well as other sugars, often with gas production; reduce nitrate to nitrite, contain the enterobacterial common antigen, and have a 39-59% guanine-plus-cytosine (G + C) content of DNA (_). Enterobacter aerogenes has small capusules with several flagella located all over the cell.
The genus Enterobacter, is more specifically, a nosocomial opportunistic pathogen and is sought out to be one of many key causes for extraintestinal infections. Common infections are urinary tract infections, specifically cystitis, respiratory, wound, bloodstream and central nervous system infections. Such infections are typically a result of inadvertent transfer of bacteria during surgery or prolonged treatment in hospitals in patients who use venous or urethral catheters.
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
Enterobacter are found in the soil, in water, in dairy products, and in the intestines of animals as well as humans. They are most frequently found in the gastrointestinal tract and are studied in clinical sites in stool samples (usually in the form of diarrhea).
Pathology
Enterobacter aerogenes causes disease in humans through inadvertent bacteria transfer in hospital settings. A portion of enteric bacteria like E. aerogenes are opportunistic and only infect those who already have suppressed host immunity defenses. Infants, the elderly, and those who are in the terminal stages of other disease or are immunosuppressed are prime candidates for such infections (_).
Additionally, E. aerogenes as well as other enteric bacteria, is known to have drug-resistant characteristics. There has been some success in dealing with infections through antibiotics, however, the fast development of multidrug resistence has become an increasingly growing problem. (_ lil paper). These multiresistant strains have caused outbreaks in intensive care units (ICUs) in Belgium, France, Austria, and the United States and has further become more emergent than its sister species E. cloacea (_ 3 ncbi). Research has shown that E. aerogenes is resistant to ampicillin and it has been more recently discovered that it is resistant to imipenem (_,_).
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
This page was created by Tiffany M. Liu, a student of Professor Rachel Larsen at the University of California, San Diego.