Faecalibacterium prausnitzii: Difference between revisions

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==Description and Significance==
==Description and Significance==
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore forming and is strictly anaerobic. When studied, its optimal growth temperature was shown to be approximately 37 degrees Celsius, which parallels the temperature of the human body. Moreover, as F. prausnitzii is extremely oxygen sensitive, studies have shown that when exposed to ambient air, F. prausnitzii lose their viability within approximately 2 minutes. These attributes have led to challenges regarding the cultivation and preservation of F. prausnitzii.
''Faecalibacterium prausnitzii'' is rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore forming and is strictly anaerobic. When studied, its optimal growth temperature was revealed to be approximately 37 degrees Celsius, which parallels the temperature of the human body. Moreover, as ''F. prausnitzii'' is extremely oxygen sensitive, studies have shown that when exposed to ambient air, ''F. prausnitzii'' lose their viability within approximately 2 minutes. These attributes have led to challenges regarding the cultivation and preservation of ''F. prausnitzii''.


F. prausnitzii colonization in the colon is considered to be a notable biomarker for a healthy human gastrointestinal tract, and plays a key role in the maintenance of overall gut homeostasis. Decreased presence of F. prausnitzii has been linked to gut inflammation and several bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and colorectal cancer.
''F. prausnitzii'' colonization in the colon is considered to be a notable biomarker for a healthy human gastrointestinal tract, and plays a key role in the maintenance of overall gut homeostasis. Decreased presence of ''F. prausnitzii'' has been linked to gut inflammation and several bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and colorectal cancer.


Because of its significant role in gut homeostasis, F. prausnitzii are of high interest as a next-generation probiotic. Recent research has focused on additional molecules and strategies aimed at maintaining F. prausnitzii viable even when exposed to higher gradients of oxygen. There have been successful insights made that have shown F. prausnitzii to maintain its viability for 24 hours at ambient air by exploiting extracellular antioxidants such as riboflavin and cysteine, among others. This is being done in an effort to make F. prausnitzii commercially available as a biotherapeutic probiotic to help those suffering from bowel diseases. Other researchers have also seen the potential of F. prausnitzii in the agriculture industry to be used as a probiotic for cows.
Because of its significant role in gut homeostasis, ''F. prausnitzii'' strains are of high interest as a next-generation probiotic. Recent research has focused on additional molecules and strategies aimed at maintaining ''F. prausnitzii'' viable even when exposed to higher gradients of oxygen. There have been successful insights made that have shown ''F. prausnitzii'' to maintain its viability for 24 hours at ambient air by exploiting extracellular antioxidants such as riboflavin and cysteine, among others. This is being done in an effort to make ''F. prausnitzii'' commercially available as a biotherapeutic remedy and probiotic to help those suffering from bowel diseases. Other researchers have also seen the potential of ''F. prausnitzii'' in the agricultural industry to be used as a probiotic for cows.


==Genome Structure==
==Genome Structure==

Revision as of 14:28, 29 April 2020

This student page has not been curated.

Classification

Domain: Bacteria

Phylum: Firmicutes

Class: Clostridia

Order: Clostridiales

Family: Ruminococcaceae [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii

Description and Significance

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore forming and is strictly anaerobic. When studied, its optimal growth temperature was revealed to be approximately 37 degrees Celsius, which parallels the temperature of the human body. Moreover, as F. prausnitzii is extremely oxygen sensitive, studies have shown that when exposed to ambient air, F. prausnitzii lose their viability within approximately 2 minutes. These attributes have led to challenges regarding the cultivation and preservation of F. prausnitzii.

F. prausnitzii colonization in the colon is considered to be a notable biomarker for a healthy human gastrointestinal tract, and plays a key role in the maintenance of overall gut homeostasis. Decreased presence of F. prausnitzii has been linked to gut inflammation and several bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and colorectal cancer.

Because of its significant role in gut homeostasis, F. prausnitzii strains are of high interest as a next-generation probiotic. Recent research has focused on additional molecules and strategies aimed at maintaining F. prausnitzii viable even when exposed to higher gradients of oxygen. There have been successful insights made that have shown F. prausnitzii to maintain its viability for 24 hours at ambient air by exploiting extracellular antioxidants such as riboflavin and cysteine, among others. This is being done in an effort to make F. prausnitzii commercially available as a biotherapeutic remedy and probiotic to help those suffering from bowel diseases. Other researchers have also seen the potential of F. prausnitzii in the agricultural industry to be used as a probiotic for cows.

Genome Structure

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii has two main phylogroups: Phylogroup I and Phylogroup II. Within these phylogroups there are different strains whose genomes have been documented in public databases with varying levels of assembly and annotation quality. When observing the genomes of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, altogether the genome size has displayed variation, ranging from 2.68 million base pairs (Mbp) to 3.42 Mbp and having wide range of G-C% content varying from 54.9% to 63.0%. Most genomes have been constructed from draft assemblies, however one of the first strains to have a complete genome representation is F. prausnitzii strain A2-165 (Phylogroup II). This strain of F. prausnitzii has a circular genome containing 3.11 Mbp, 56.3% G-C content, 3,017 total genes, 2,790 coding genes, and 85 RNA genes.

In a study by Fitzgerald et al. (2018), 31 genomes of high-quality draft as well as complete genomes were used in a comparative genomics analysis to observe intraspecies diversity. The results displayed a high level of genome plasticity and a relatively low level of average nucleotide identity (ANI) between F. prausnitzii groups. Based on these observations, among others, Fitzgerald et al. have proposed to separate Faecalibacterium prausnitzii into two new species level taxa.

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 _____, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at IndianaUniversity.