Clostridium cellulovorans
Classification
Species
Clostridium cellulovorans
Other name: Clostridium cellulovorans strain 743B
Description and Significance
Genome Structure
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
The life phase of Chlamydia trachomatis comprises of two steps: elementary body and reticulate body. The elementary body is the spreading form, which is analogous to a spore. The spreading form is about 0.3 um in diameter and makes its own endocytosis upon contact to target cells. It is this form that averts phagolysosomal fusion, which then permits for intracellular survival of the bacteria. Once inside the endosome, the elementary body develops into the reticulate body as a result of the glycogen that is created. The reticulate body splits through binary fission at approximately 2-3 hours per generation. The cell body has a maturation period of 7-21 days in the host. It has no cell wall and is identified as an inclusion in the cell. After division, the reticulate body converts back to the elementary form and is released by the cell by exocytosis. One phagolysosome generally make bout 100-1000 elementary bodies [2]. For metabolism, Chlamydia trachomatis has a glycolytic pathway and a linked tricarboxylic acid cycle. Glycogen production and use of glucose derivatives plays a supportive role in chlamydial metabolism. The occurrence of metabloic precursors and products, such as pyruvate, succinate, glycerol-3-phosphate and NADH dehydrogenases, NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase and cytochrome oxidase specify that Chlamydia trachomatis uses a form of electron transport in order to yield energy [2].
Ecology and Pathogenesis
Chlamydia trachomatis is a pathogenic bacteria. It cannot stay alive outside of a eukaryotic host. In fact, humans are the only recognized usual host for C. trachomatis. The bacterium is transmitted by sexual contact with an infected individual.[3] Usually, C. trachomatis is asymptomatic in its hosts, but can produce discharge from the penis, pain and burning through urination, infection or inflammation in the ducts of testicles, and sensitivity or pain in the testicles. [3]
References
(1) Sleat, R., Mah, R. A. & Robinson, R. Isolation and Characterization of an Anaerobic, Cellulolytic Bacterium, Clostridium-Cellulovorans Sp-Nov. Appl Environ Microb 48, 88-93 (1984).
2 Himmel, M. E., Ruth, M. F. & Wyman, C. E. Cellulase for commodity products from cellulosic biomass. Curr Opin Biotech 10, 358-364 (1999).
3 Tamaru, Y. et al. Genome Sequence of the Cellulosome-Producing Mesophilic Organism Clostridium cellulovorans 743B. J Bacteriol 192, 901-902 (2010).
4 Tamaru, Y., Miyake, H., Kuroda, K., Ueda, M. & Doi, R. H. Comparative genomics of the mesophilic cellulosome-producing Clostridium cellulovorans and its application to biofuel production via consolidated bioprocessing. Environ Technol 31, 889-903 (2010).
5 Tamaru, Y. & Doi, P. H. Pectate lyase A, an enzymatic subunit of the Clostridium cellulovorans cellulosome. P Natl Acad Sci USA 98, 4125-4129 (2001).
6 Bayer, E. A., Shimon, L. J. W., Shoham, Y. & Lamed, R. Cellulosomes - Structure and ultrastructure. J Struct Biol 124, 221-234 (1998).
7 Doi, R. H. & Tamaru, Y. The Clostridium cellulovorans cellulosome: An enzyme complex with plant cell wall degrading activity. Chem Rec 1, 24-32 (2001).
Author
Page authored by Umesh Adhikari and Joe Araiz, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.
