Erwinia carotovora: Difference between revisions

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
Line 41: Line 41:
==Pathology==
==Pathology==
How does this organism cause disease?  Human, animal, plant hosts?  Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
How does this organism cause disease?  Human, animal, plant hosts?  Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
Erwinia carotovora is a plant pathogen that causes cell death through plant cell wall destruction by creating an osmotically fragile cell through the production of extracellular pectic enzymes and cellulase that break down integrity of the pectin and degrades cellulose.  This organism causes soft-rot diseases of many plants, including potatoes through plant to plant infection, insect to plant infection and water to plant infection.


==Application to Biotechnology==
==Application to Biotechnology==

Revision as of 07:05, 3 May 2007

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Erwinia carotovora

Classification

Higher order taxa

Kingdom: Bacteria Phylum: Proteobacteria Class: Gammaproteobacteria Order: Enterobacteriales Family: Enterobacteriaceae Genus: Erwinia Species: carotovora

Species

Erwinia amylovora; Erwinia aphidicola; Erwinia billingiae; Erwinia carotovora; Erwinia chrysantum; Erwinia mallotivora; Erwinia papayae; Erwinia persicina; Erwinia psidii; Erwinia pyrifoliae; Erwinia rhapontici; Erwinia toletana; Erwinia tracheiphila

NCBI: Taxonomy

Genus species

Description and significance

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

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?

Genome analysis of Erwinia carotovora indicates that this organism not only fixes nitrogen but also catabolize plant-produced opines. Along with all six of the known secretion systems, the chromosome also encodes a sizeable collection of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes such as pectinases. This signifies the bactium's ability produce pathogenicity determinants such as the aforementioned degradative enzymes and avirulence proteins. Disruption of the type IV secretion system affected virulence, which suggests this does not simply reflect an integrated plasmid in the chromosome.

Cell structure and metabolism

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

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

Erwinia carotovora is a plant pathogen that causes cell death through plant cell wall destruction by creating an osmotically fragile cell through the production of extracellular pectic enzymes and cellulase that break down integrity of the pectin and degrades cellulose. This organism causes soft-rot diseases of many plants, including potatoes through plant to plant infection, insect to plant infection and water to plant infection.

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

[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 student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano