User:S4188552

Aimee Davidson Bench E Date ^[1]

Classification

Higher order taxa

Kingdom - Bacteria - Firmicutes - Negativicutes - Selenomonadales - Veillonellaceae - Veillonella ^[3]

Species

Species name: Veillonella parvula (subspecies parvula) ^[3]

Type strain: ATCC 10790 = CCUG 5123 = DSM 2008 = JCM 12972 = NCTC 11810 ^[3]

Description and significance

Veillonella parvula is one of thirteen species of the ‘’Veillonella’ genus and one of only six of these species to be found within the human oral cavity ^[6]. It was original dubbed Staphylococcus parvulus by Veillon and Zuber following its first isolation from an infected human appendix in 1898 ^[11]. It was subsequently renamed Veillonella parvula in 1933 by Prevot ^[11].

It is small gram-negative cocci that can be identified by its characteristic pair grouping and distinctive red fluorescence under UV light ^[4] .

Genome structure

V. parvula exhibits a circular 2.13 Mb (2,132,142 bp) genome, of which 88.46 % is DNA encoding, and was the first member of the Veillonella family to have its complete genome sequenced. Its 1920 genes include: 1859 protein-encoding genes, 61 RNA specific genes and 15 pseduogenes, with an overall GC content of 38.63%. The majority of these genes are predicted to have either an unknown (385 genes) or general function (177 genes). Although those genes with a predicted function are predominately involved with: translation, ribosomal structure, cell wall or membrane biogenesis, energy production and conversion, amino acid, coenzyme and inorganic transport and metabolism ^[5].

Genome structure of V. parvula ^[5].

Cell structure and metabolism

Cell wall, biofilm formation, motility, metabolic functions.

Ecology

It is a strict anaerobe whose metabolic activity is centred upon the activity of the methylmalonyl-COA decarboxylase enzyme.

Pathology

V. parvula has a well established association with human oral diseases, in particular demonstrating a strong association with severe early childhood carries and intraradicular infections ^[5],^[6]. Recent research has also revealed that V. parvula is the predominant Veillonella species within dentine biofilms^[10].

Although V. parvula generally presents as a commensal or non-pathogenic resident in the bacterial communities of the oropharynx and the gastrointestinal, genitourinary and respiratory tracks ^[7] , it has rarely been associated with a number of serious and life-threatening infections. These infections include: osteomyeltitis, spondylodiscitis, discitis, meningitis and sinus infections ^[7], ^[8].

It has demonstrated resistance against a wide range of antibiotics including: tetracycline, erythromycin, gentamicin, karamycin, chloramphenicol and lincomycin. Although importantly at the time of its genome sequencing in 2010 it was still susceptible to penicillin, cephalotin and clindamycin ^[5].