Sulcia muelleri
Classification
Domain: Bacteria; Phylum; Bacteroidetes; Class: Flavobacteria; Order Flavobacteriales
Species
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Sulcia muelleri
Description and Significance
Sulcia muelleri is a bacteria with a large elongated cell shape around 30 (micro)m in size. This bacteria is found anywhere from environments such as coastal marine waters to dental plaques [1]. S. muelleri is shown to be an ancient symbiont of sap-feeding insects, beginning over 260 million years ago [1] . It now plays an important role in a tripartite symbiosis with its sap-feeding insect host (sharpshooters) and Baumannia cicadellinicola (Gammaproteobacteria). It is responsible for most of the amino acid biosynthesis for the sharpshooter while B. cicadellinicola's role primarily contributes vitamins and cofactors to the host. This mutualistic interaction is important for the success for certain insects, which are essential for plant diversification and ultimately life on earth.
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.
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?
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
S. muelleri has the genetic components necessary to produce all 20 amino acids, yet no strain actually synthesizes each one. Most strains are capable of synthesizing all 8 essential amino acids, which include leucine, valine, threonine, isoleucine, lysine, arginine, phenylalanine and tryptophan. For example, the strain Sulcia-CARI cannot synthesize tryptophan due to the loss of certain genetic components.These amino acids are essential for the bacteria's host, since sharpshooters do not get these essential amino acids from their xylem-sap diet.
Ecology and Pathogenesis
S. muelleri lives in specialized cells in the host and is involved in an obligate mutualism with its host and certain Gammaproteobacteria. The host primarily feeds on xylem sap which is low in nutrients and contains mostly inorganic components with little amino acids. In this tripartite symbiosis, a metabolic exchange of metabolites is occurring by each of the members. S. muelleri uses aerobic respiration with the electron donor being carbon found from components of the sap. It is responsible for synthesizing most essential amino acids found in the mutualism and in the host.
Although this bacteria isn't known to be the direct cause of any diseases, its host are considered pests and vectors of some plant diseases such as diseases caused by the pathogen Xylella fastidiosa.
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
1. http://www.pnas.org/content/104/49/19392.full
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2953269/
Author
Page authored by _____, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at IndianaUniversity.
