Providencia stuartii
Classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Proteobacteria
Class: Gammaproteobacteria
Order: Enterobacteriales
Family: Enterobacteriaceae
Genus: Providencia
Species
NCBI: Taxonomy |
Providencia stuartii
Description and Significance
Providencia stuartii is a gram-negative bacteria.
In laboratory settings, ,it is best cultured in Nutrient Agar or Columbia agar, with growth best at 37C and a mesophilic temperature range. It is of risk group 2 on the biosafety level[5].
P. stuartii has a straight rod morphology and is typically 0.6-0.8 micrometers by 1.5-2.5 micrometers in size [6].
P. stuartii is ubiquitous, being commonly found in water, soil, and animal reservoirs [2].
It is responsible for many UTIs in patients under long term catheterization and has a high degree of antibiotic resistance, a major concern for hospitals and nursing homes where many patients are vulnerable to infection from this microbe. Treatment, once infected, is difficult.
Genome Structure
In 2011 P. stuartii MRSN 2154 was sequenced using the Roche GS FLX Titanium system with a shotgun rapid ligation library. The sequencing found that P. stuartii MRSN 2154 has a “circular genome of 4,402,109 nucleotides and a G/C (guanine-cytosine) content of 41.27%" (NCBI).
The P. stuarttii MRSN 2154 genome has 4,194 predicted genes, 75 tRNA genes, and seven rrnoperons (NBCI)
It has two porins, Omp-Pst1 and Omp-Pst2. It primary expressed Omp-pst1 in a rich medium, which is mildly anion selective and more permissive of beta lactam antibiotics. In comparison, Omp-Pst2 has atypical voltage gating behavior and could play a role is charge distribution across the OM (what the heck, look up). When Omp-Pst2 was knocked down, P. stuartii growth was retarded, indicating that this porin plays an important role in development[1].
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
METABOLISM & KEY PRODUCTS
P. stuartii is facultatively anaerobic and is a chemoorganotrophic. P. stuartii has both a fermentative and respiratory metabolism [6].
Urease acts as a catalyst for the transformation of urea into ammonia
P. stuartii is a urease-positive species [1]. This is significant because ureases are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia. This can have health implications for humans and animals, when P. stuartii live in the urinary tract. Urease activity is a known contributing factor to the development of urolithiasis, also known as kidney stones.
Ecology and Pathogenesis
Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
References
[3] Cunningham, Lennox, and Ross (2010). A brief introduction to Biofilms. Website.
[4] Jacoby, G. A. (2009). AmpC β-Lactamases. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 22(1), 161–182
[6] Providencia. Hardy Diagnostics.
Author
Page authored by Bry Caswell and Lily Bunis, students of Prof. Jay Lennon at IndianaUniversity.