Brucella pinnipedialis

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Classification

Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Alphaproteobacteria; Hyphomicrobiales; Brucellaceae; Brucella/Ochrobactrum group

Species

NCBI: [1]

Brucella pinnipedialis

Description and Significance

Brucella pinnipedialis was isolated in 1994 after being discovered in stranded harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). This organism has since been found in pinnipeds (i.e., seals, sea lions, walruses), with research done mostly on harbor seals and hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) (Nymo et al. 2011; Lambourn et al. 2013; Larsen et al. 2013; Larsen et al. 2016; Rhyan et al. 2018).

A related but separate strain, Brucella ceti, has been isolated from cetaceans, including harbor porpoises, common, striped, and bottlenose dolphins. B. ceti is known to be pathogenic, forming lesions and causing abortions in cetaceans. Less is known about the pathogenic capabilities of B. pinnipedialis, making it a species of concern due to its association with stranded harbor seals and the possibility of transmittance to humans (Nymo et al. 2011; Audic et al. 2011).

Genome Structure

B. pinnipedialis genome has been sequenced (Audic et al. 2011; Orsini et al. 2022) and consists of two circular chromosomes that contain 3,342 protein coding genes. One chromosome consists of 2,138,342 base pairs and the other consists of 1,260,926 base pairs (Audic et al. 2011). The core genome consists of 2998 genes. Several of their genes code for antimicrobial resistance, including gyrA (nalidixic acid resistance) and mprF (cationic peptide resistance). Figure 1 shows the distribution of genes and their functions within B. pinnipedialis (Orsini et al. 2022).

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

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

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

[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.

Author

Page authored by Abigail Flowers, student of Prof. Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington.