Chlamydophila abortus

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Chlamydophila abortus

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Chlamydiae; Chlamydiae(class); Chlamydiales; Chlamydiaceae; Chlamydophila [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy Chlamydophila abortus Description and significance This gram-negative bacteria is an obligate intracellular pathogen. Chlamydophila abortus is found in cows, goats, sheep, and pigs where it causes abortion during the later period of pregnancy by colonizing in the placenta. The enzootic abortion in sheep is called ovine enzootic abortion (OEA). This pathogen is also zoonotic and will cause abortion or serious health problems in women, by invading the placenta and causing infection and irritation. The sequence S26/3 was isolated in 1979 in Scotland. Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. Describe how and where it was isolated. Include a picture or two (with sources) if you can find them. Genome structure This bacteria contains 1,144,377 base pairs within its genome, with a guanine-cytosine pairing taking up 39.9% of the base pairs. C. abortus contains 961 genes which are all arranged in a circular manner. 842 of the genes are conserved with Chlamydophila caviae and chlamydophila pneumoniae. The genome contains single copies of 23S, 16S, and 5S rRNA genes which is different from Chlamydia. Through its genome sequence it is apparent that the pathogen has many varible proteins along it membrane that account for its varible contents. Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle? Cell structure and metabolism This bacteria has two membranes and no flagella. It contains four specific proteins on its outer membrane, coded by the genes POMP 90A/B, and 91A/B. These genes are believed to be glycosylated which may be the reason for their heterogeneity. This pathogen lacks any toxin genes and lacks genes involved in tryptophan metabolism and nucleotide salvaging. Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces. Ecology Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc. Pathology The class Chlamydiaceae have a very interesting developmental characteristic where they undergo a biphasic process of being infectious but metabolically inactive and then switching to a noninfectious but metabolically active cell. Chlamydophila abortus cause infection by binding to a host cell and becoming metabolically active, it then multiplies within the cells inclusion bodies. The inclusion bodies evade lysosomes and avoid the endocytic pathway and intercepts the exocytic pathway. They become secretory vacuoles to the host and infect them. The inclusion bodies then are lysed off or exocytosis occurs. The metabolically active form can be spread through ingestion, aerosols, or physical contact with the infected organism. How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms. Application to Biotechnology Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used? Current Research Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required References http://www.genome.org/cgi/content/full/15/5/629 http://www.sanger.ac.uk/Projects/C_abortus/ http://expasy.org/sprot/hamap/CHLAB.html Vretou1, E., Giannikopoulou1, P., Psarrou1, E. "Polymorphic outer-membrane proteins of Chlamydophila abortus are glycosylated". Microbiology. 2001. Thompson, N.,Yeats, C., Bell, K., Holden, M.,Bentley, S.,Livingstone, M., Cerdeno-Tarraga, A., Harris, B., Doggett, J., Ormund, D., Mungall, K., Clarke, K., Feltwell, T., Hance, Z., Sanders, M., Quail, M., Price, C., Barrell, B., Parkhill, J., Longbottom, D. "The Chlamydophila abortus sequence reveals an array of variable proteins that contribute to interspecies variation." Published online April 18, 2005. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&query_hl=1&list_uids=15837807 [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. Edited by Kylee Lim, student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano