Moraxella bovis
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Moraxella bovis
Classification
Higher order taxa
Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Gammaproteobacteria; Pseudomonadales; Moraxellaceae, Moraxella (2). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=476
Species
Moraxella bovis
Description and significance
Moraxella bovis is a highly opportunistic bacterium infecting cattle herds worldwide, causing Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivits (IBK), also known as pinkeye or ‘New Forest Eye’. This disease is characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the conjunctiva causing discomfort, excessive tearing (4) and can eventually cause ocular rupturing. This bacterium thrives on the surface of cattle eyes proliferating exponentially in the presence of oxygen and ultraviolet rays from the summer sun, which predisposes the eye to infection (4,9). IBK is transferred from cattle to cattle with flies acting as virulent vectors (5), tall blades of grass while cattle graze (7) and direct contact. Increased rates of infection occur during the summer and fall season as there is a correlation with increased sunlight and fly populations.
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 and colony structure
Interesting features of cell structure. Interesting features of colony structure.
Metabolism
Energy source(s); external electron donor(s) (=reductant source(s)); carbon source(s); oxygen classification; important molecules it produces.
Ecology
Habitat; symbiosis; contributions to the environment. metagenomic data link
Pathology
How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors.
References
1. Angelos, John A., V. Michael Lane, Louise M. Ball, and John F. Hess. "Recombinant Moraxella Bovoculi Cytotoxin-ISCOM Matrix Adjuvanted Vaccine to Prevent Naturally Occurring Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis." Veterinary Research Communications 34.3 (2010): 229-39. Print. doi: 10.1007/s11259-010-9347-8 . http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2855018/
2. Bergey, D. H., Noel R. Krieg, and John G. Holt. Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1984. Pp 415. http://books.google.com/books?id=0-VqgLiCPFcC&q=moraxella+bovis#v=onepage&q=moraxella&f=false
3. "Genes and Mapped Phenotypes." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene
4. Highlander, Sarah K., and George M. Weinstock. "HGSC at Baylor College of Medicine." HGSC at Baylor College of Medicine. 27 June 2006. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. http://www.hgsc.bcm.tmc.edu/projects/microbial/microbial-detail.xsp?project_id=123 .
5. McMichael, J. C. "Bacterial Differentiation within Moraxella Bovis Colonies Growing at the Interface of the Agar Medium with the Petri Dish." Microbiology 138.12 (1992): 2687-695. NCBI. Web. 07 Feb. 2012. doi: 10.1099/00221287-138-12-2687 . http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1362585
6. McMichael, John C. Moraxella Bovis – Evolution in a Petri Dish. Photograph. http://pandasthumb.org/archives/2009/11/moraxella-bovis.html . 30 Nov. 2009.
7. R, Craig. New Forest Eye. 2011. Photograph. http://informedfarmers.com/new-forest-eye-in-beef-cattle/
8. Rodriguez, Jose E., Abebe Hassen, and James Reecy. "Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (Pinkeye) Study." Iowa State University, McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm. Web. www.ag.iastate.edu/farms/05reports/.../InfectiousBovineKeratocon.pdf
9. Schaechter, Moselio, John L. Ingraham, and Frederick C. Neidhardt. Microbe. Washington, D.C.: American Society for Microbiology, 2006.
