Chlamydophila pneumoniae: Difference between revisions
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==Description and Significance== | ==Description and Significance== | ||
''Chlamydophila pneumoniae'' is a species of bacteria that is known to be a major cause of pneumonia, bronchitis, and atherosclerosis in humans. Similar to viruses, ''Chlamydophila pneumoniae'' is a parasitic organism that cannot reproduce outside of the host cell and is thus dependent on the integrity of the host cell for survival. | ''Chlamydophila pneumoniae'' is a species of rod-shaped, gram negative bacteria that is known to be a major cause of pneumonia, bronchitis, respiratory infection, heart disease, and atherosclerosis in humans. It is an airborne bacteria and about 50% of adults in the United States have evidence of previous infection by the age of 20. Similar to viruses, ''Chlamydophila pneumoniae'' is a parasitic organism that cannot reproduce outside of the host cell and is thus dependent on the integrity of the host cell for survival. | ||
==Genome Structure== | ==Genome Structure== | ||
The gene sequence of ''Chlamydophila pneumoniae CWL029'', the strain most common in the United States, has been sequenced, as with many others, in 2000. The genome contains 1,230,230 base pairs of circular DNA. | The gene sequence of ''Chlamydophila pneumoniae CWL029'', the strain most common in the United States, has been sequenced, as with many others, in 2000. The genome contains 1,230,230 base pairs of circular DNA. There are 1,052 protein genes and 43 RNA genes. There are no plasmids that have been identified as of yet with this species. | ||
==Cell | ==Cell Structure and Metabolism== | ||
''Chlamydophila pneumoniae'' exists in a stationary, non-infectious state inbetween hosts known as a elementary body (EB). Although the elementary body is not infectious, it has the ability to withstand environmental stresses until it reaches a new host where it transforms into a reticulate body (RB). The bacteria undergoes aerobic respiration. ''Chlamydophila pneumoniae'' has an incubation period from 7-21 days within it's host and divides every 2-3 hours. | |||
==Ecology== | ==Ecology== | ||
''Chlamydophila pneumoniae'' is known and is seen in human hosts all around the world. Many studies have been conducted in the United States and Japan. It was shown that these two isolated strains of ''Chlamydophila pneumoniae'', ''Chlamydophila pneumoniae J138 (Japan)'' and ''Chlamydophila pneumoniae CWL029 (US)'' are very similar to each other in overall function, with only a difference in about 3,600 base pairs. | |||
==Pathology== | ==Pathology== | ||
The elementary form of the bacteria is transferred via small water droplets into another host's lungs where it is taken in by endosomes in lung cells. Once the elementary body is taken in, it transforms into the reticulate body, where it replicates itself within the cell. With numerous copies of itself within the cell, the reticulate body reverts back to its elementary form, lyses the cell, and begins the cycle of infection again. | |||
''Chlamydophila pneumoniae'' is also known to infect reptiles such as snakes, iguanas, frogs, turtles, and mammals such as koalas. | |||
Symptoms include dry cough, fatigue, pain the side of the chest, fever, loss of appetite, and aches. | |||
==Application to Biotechnology== | ==Application to Biotechnology== | ||
Although ''Chlamydophila pneumoniae'' is not known to produce any useful enzymes or compounds directly, because of its widespread infection world-wide, antibiotics against this bacteria have been produced indirectly. | |||
==Current Research== | ==Current Research== | ||
Revision as of 16:57, 3 May 2007
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Classification
Higher order taxa
Kingdom: Bacteria; Phylum: Chlamydiae; Order: Chlamydiales; Genus: Chlamydophila; Species: C. pneumoniae; [NCBI]
Species
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Description and Significance
Chlamydophila pneumoniae is a species of rod-shaped, gram negative bacteria that is known to be a major cause of pneumonia, bronchitis, respiratory infection, heart disease, and atherosclerosis in humans. It is an airborne bacteria and about 50% of adults in the United States have evidence of previous infection by the age of 20. Similar to viruses, Chlamydophila pneumoniae is a parasitic organism that cannot reproduce outside of the host cell and is thus dependent on the integrity of the host cell for survival.
Genome Structure
The gene sequence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae CWL029, the strain most common in the United States, has been sequenced, as with many others, in 2000. The genome contains 1,230,230 base pairs of circular DNA. There are 1,052 protein genes and 43 RNA genes. There are no plasmids that have been identified as of yet with this species.
Cell Structure and Metabolism
Chlamydophila pneumoniae exists in a stationary, non-infectious state inbetween hosts known as a elementary body (EB). Although the elementary body is not infectious, it has the ability to withstand environmental stresses until it reaches a new host where it transforms into a reticulate body (RB). The bacteria undergoes aerobic respiration. Chlamydophila pneumoniae has an incubation period from 7-21 days within it's host and divides every 2-3 hours.
Ecology
Chlamydophila pneumoniae is known and is seen in human hosts all around the world. Many studies have been conducted in the United States and Japan. It was shown that these two isolated strains of Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae J138 (Japan) and Chlamydophila pneumoniae CWL029 (US) are very similar to each other in overall function, with only a difference in about 3,600 base pairs.
Pathology
The elementary form of the bacteria is transferred via small water droplets into another host's lungs where it is taken in by endosomes in lung cells. Once the elementary body is taken in, it transforms into the reticulate body, where it replicates itself within the cell. With numerous copies of itself within the cell, the reticulate body reverts back to its elementary form, lyses the cell, and begins the cycle of infection again.
Chlamydophila pneumoniae is also known to infect reptiles such as snakes, iguanas, frogs, turtles, and mammals such as koalas.
Symptoms include dry cough, fatigue, pain the side of the chest, fever, loss of appetite, and aches.
Application to Biotechnology
Although Chlamydophila pneumoniae is not known to produce any useful enzymes or compounds directly, because of its widespread infection world-wide, antibiotics against this bacteria have been produced indirectly.
Current Research
Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required
References
Edited by student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano
