Listeria innocua: Difference between revisions

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==Description and significance==
==Description and significance==
   
   
''Listeria innocua'' is widely found in the environment (such as soil) and food sources. It can survive in extreme pH and temperature and high salt concentration. In terms of appearance, it is a rod-shaped Gram positive bacterium. It may live individually or organize into chains with other ''Listeria innocua'' bacteria. It produces flagella and pili for motility. It is a mesophile, operating at an optimal temperature range of 30-37 degrees Celsius. ''Listeria innocua'' very much resembles its other family member, the pathogenic ''Listeria monocytogenes''. ''Listeria innocua'' was isolated from meat by a technique called surface adhesion immunofluorescence. Samples of meat were inoculated with ''Listeria innocua'' and incuated at 30 degrees Celsium for 14-18 hours in a broth. The cells were then isolated from the meat by surface adhesion onto a polycarbonate membrane attached to a microscope glass slide. Then immunofluorescent microscopy was employed to visualize the bacteria. It is important because it was previously known for being non-pathogenic, but recently researchers found a case of ''Listeria innocua'' infection of an elderly patient.
''Listeria innocua'' is widely found in the environment (such as soil) and food sources. It can survive in extreme pH and temperature and high salt concentration. In terms of appearance, it is a rod-shaped Gram positive bacterium. It may live individually or organize into chains with other ''Listeria innocua'' bacteria. It is a mesophile, operating at an optimal temperature range of 30-37 degrees Celsius. ''Listeria innocua'' very much resembles its other family member, the pathogenic ''Listeria monocytogenes''. ''Listeria innocua'' was isolated from meat by a technique called surface adhesion immunofluorescence. Samples of meat were inoculated with ''Listeria innocua'' and incuated at 30 degrees Celsium for 14-18 hours in a broth. The cells were then isolated from the meat by surface adhesion onto a polycarbonate membrane attached to a microscope glass slide. Then immunofluorescent microscopy was employed to visualize the bacteria. It is important because it was previously known for being non-pathogenic, but recently researchers found a case of ''Listeria innocua'' infection of an elderly patient.


==Genome structure==
==Genome structure==

Revision as of 07:30, 30 April 2007

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Listeria innocua

Classification

Higher order taxa:

Bacteria; Firmicutes; Bacilli; Bacillales; Listeriaceae; Listeria

Species:

Listeria innocua

Description and significance

Listeria innocua is widely found in the environment (such as soil) and food sources. It can survive in extreme pH and temperature and high salt concentration. In terms of appearance, it is a rod-shaped Gram positive bacterium. It may live individually or organize into chains with other Listeria innocua bacteria. It is a mesophile, operating at an optimal temperature range of 30-37 degrees Celsius. Listeria innocua very much resembles its other family member, the pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria innocua was isolated from meat by a technique called surface adhesion immunofluorescence. Samples of meat were inoculated with Listeria innocua and incuated at 30 degrees Celsium for 14-18 hours in a broth. The cells were then isolated from the meat by surface adhesion onto a polycarbonate membrane attached to a microscope glass slide. Then immunofluorescent microscopy was employed to visualize the bacteria. It is important because it was previously known for being non-pathogenic, but recently researchers found a case of Listeria innocua infection of an elderly patient.

Genome structure

Listeria innocua has a circular chromosome made up of 3,011,209 base pairs, with a 37% G+C content. Only 2,973 protein-coding genes were discovered in L. innocua, while no function could be predicted for 37% of the genes. The genome encodes a great variety of regulatory, surface and transport proteins. This explains why Listeria species can adapt to and inhabit such a wide range of environments. Listeria innocua was found to be deficient in a 10-kb virulence locus, a cluster of genes that engenders pathogenicity to Listeria monocytogenes. This explains why L. innocua typically does not infect humans or animals. It also has a circular plasmid of 81,905 base pairs whose function is unknown.

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.

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