Actinomyces naeslundii

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinobacteridae; Actinomycetales; Actinomycetaceae

Species

Actinomyces naeslundii (NCBI: Taxonomy)

Description and significance

Actinomyces naeslundii is a gram-positive, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobe found in the oral cavity of humans and other animals. This non-motile bacillus is one of the only gram-positive bacteria characterized as having fimbriae.

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 and metabolism

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology

Habitat; symbiosis; contributions to environment.

Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

References

H. Wu and P.M. Fives-Taylor. "Molecular strategies for fimbrial expression and assembly." Critical Reviews in Oralal Biology & Medicine. 2001. Volume 12. p. 101–115.

P. Chen, J. O. Cisar, S. Hess, J. T. C. Ho, and K. P. Leung. "Amended Description of the Genes for Synthesis of Actinomyces naeslundii T14V Type 1 Fimbriae and Associated Adhesin." Infection and Immunity. 2007. Volume 75(No. 8). p. 4181 - 4185.

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.