Microvirgula aerodenitrificans: Difference between revisions

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
No edit summary
 
(49 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Curated}}
{{curated}}
{{Biorealm Genus}}
 
[[Image:20101017_175758_Bacilli.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Some bacteria presumed to be of the genus <i>Bacillus</i>.<br/>Numbered ticks are 11 &micro;M apart.<br/>[[Gram staining|Gram-stained]].<br/>Photograph by [[User:Blaylock|Bob Blaylock]].]]
[[Image:bacillus_colony.jpg|frame|right|''Bacillus cereus'' on an agar plate. Courtesy of[http://www.imi.org.uk/dec2002/dec2002.htm Jill Swanborough and copyright of MIPS Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust.]]]


==Classification==
==Classification==
Line 9: Line 5:
Domain: Bacteria
Domain: Bacteria


Phylum: Proteobacteria  
Phylum: ''Proteobacteria''


Class: Betaproteobacteria
Class: ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betaproteobacteria Betaproteobacteria]''


Order: Neisseriales
Order: ''Neisseriales''


Family: Neisseriaceae
Family: ''Neisseriaceae''


Genus: Microvirgula
Genus: ''Microvirgula''


Species: aerodenitrificans
Species: ''aerodenitrificans''


==Description and Significance==
===Species===


[[Image:bacillus_detergent.jpg|frame|left| Detergent granules containing enzymes produced by ''Bacillus subtilis''. From [http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/success/en/pur/0291e.html Innovation in Europe]]] Bacilli are an extremely diverse group of bacteria that include both the causative agent of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) as well as several species that synthesize important antibiotics. In addition to medical uses, bacillus spores, due to their extreme tolerance to both heat and disinfectants, are used to test heat sterilization techniques and chemical disinfectants. Bacilli are also used in the detergent manufacturing industry for their ability to synthesize important enzymes. <br />
''Microvirgula aerodenitrificans''


==Introduction==
''M. aerodenitrificans'' are abile to performs [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denitrification denitrification] under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerobic aerobic] condition [1,3,5]. While most denitrifiers  utilize nitrate and nitrite as terminal electron acceptors under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaerobic anaerobic] conditions, , ''M. aerodenitrificans'' reduces both oxygen and nitrogen simultaneously when oxygen is present [5]. However, the biological significance is not defined yet for aerobic denitrification. The habitat for this organism is not specified and found in a various places globally where selective pressure such as fluctuating oxygen concentration occurs[7,8]. These places are mostly sludge, mixture of wastewater treatment and also found in canal and a pond [8].
Until 2012, ''Microvirgula aerodenitrificans'' has not been described as a causative organism of clinical infection. However, the first human case has been recently reported in where ''M. aerodenitrificans'' was linked to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteremia bacteremia]  in a 15-month-old infant boy with Pompe’s disease. The disease causality of the organism itself is not yet proven but it is shown that such organism can influence vascular access mechanism and may lead to a clinical disease especially for a person with an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immunodeficiency immunodeficiency] [2].


==<br /> Genome Structure==
==Morphology and Classification==
[[File:Bipolar Flagellation.jpeg|400px|thumb|right|Bipolar Flagellation]]
''Microvirgula aerodenitrificans'' was first isolated from an activated sludge in 1998 by Patureau et al. This microorganism is a curved, rod shaped ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibrio vibrio]), motile, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram-negative_bacteria gram negative], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalase catalase]- and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidase oxidase]- positive, and aerobically denitrifying bacteria [5]. It is also a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesophile mesophile] and [http://goldbook.iupac.org/N04133.html neutrophilic organism], where the maximal growth occurs at 35oC and pH 7 [5]. The organism still shows growth at temperature range between 15oC to 45oC and under pH 6 [5]. The size of the cell varies within a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacterial_growth growth stage] [5]. At the beginning of the growth stage, it has a thin shape but becomes larger and associate with 4-5 cells by the late [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stationary_phase_(biology) stationary phase] [5]. Based on these [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenotype phenotypic] characteristics, ''M. aerodenitrificans'' is the most close to ''Cornarnonas testosteroni'' and ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudomonas Pseudomonas] alcaligenes'' [1, 5].
''M. aerodenitrificans'' is a typical Gram negative cell wall structure, which includes two layers of membranes, outer and inner, revealed with an undulating outer membrane [5]. The isolated colonies after a 24 h [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incubation_period incubation period] were shown to be circular with 1±2 mm diameter and cream-coloured [5] In young cultures, cells occurred as singly or in pairs.  Under a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_stain negative staining] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_microscope electron microscopy], a thin section of ''M. aerodenitrificans'' possesses bipolar tufts of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagellum flagella] [5].


<br /> To date there are currently or have been 25 genome projects on ''Bacillus. ''Including: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=10784 ]''[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=10784 Bacillus anthracis str. 'Ames Ancestor'], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=10795 Bacillus anthracis str. A1055, ][http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=299 Bacillus anthracis str. A2012], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=309 Bacillus anthracis str. Ames], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=10799 Bacillus anthracis str. Australia 94], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=10796 Bacillus anthracis str. CNEVA-9066], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=324 Bacillus anthracis str. Kruger B], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=10878 Bacillus anthracis str. Sterne], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=10797 Bacillus anthracis str. Vollum], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=337 Bacillus anthracis str. Western North America USA6153], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=74 Bacillus cereus ATCC 10987], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=384 Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=10788 Bacillus cereus G9241], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=10788 Bacillus cereus G9241], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=13624 Bacillus cereus NVH391-98], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=12468 Bacillus cereus E33L], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=13291 Bacillus clausii KSM-K16] , [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=235 Bacillus halodurans C-125], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=13082 Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 14580, Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 14580, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=13545 Bacillus sp. NRRL B-14911], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=76 Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis str. 168], '' and ''[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=10877 Bacillus thuringiensis serovar konkukian str. 97-27].''
==Metabolism==
[[File:Nutritional characteristics table.jpeg|400px|thumb|left|Nutritional characteristics of ''Microvirgula aerodenitrificans'']]
''Microvirgula aerodenitrificans'' is a Gram-negative and slightly curved rod shaped bacteria where ''Microvirgula aerodenitrificans'' is an aerobic and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterotroph heterotrophic] denitrifier [7]. The organism obtains both carbon and electron sources from different kinds of organic matters; however, it has been shown that this organism can’t readily oxidize sugar compounds [1]. In addition, ''M. aerodenitrificans'' is shown to be able to digest and use caprate, malate and hydrolyse arginine based on the API 20 NE tests [1]. In its usual habitat, sludge or a waste treatment, acetate would be used as a common carbon/electron source for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolism metabolism] [7]. In addition, as a denitrifier, the organism uses oxidized forms of nitrogen as terminal [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_acceptor electron acceptor] (TEA) and produces gaseous nitrogen oxide products [10]. Furthermore, unlike other denitrifiers, ''M. aerodenitrificans'' performs an aerobic denitrification which is a co-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_respiration respiration] of the two electron acceptors, oxygen and nitrogen compound, at the same time [5].


The sequence for the genome of ''Bacillus subtilis'' was completed in 1997 and was the first published sequence for a single-living bacterium. The genome is 4.2 Mega-base pairs long with 4,100 protein-coding regions. ''Bacillus'' ''subtilis'' has a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium shown to synthesize antifungal peptides. This ability has lead to the use of ''B. subtilis'' in biocontrol. ''B. subtilis ''has been shown to increase crop yields, although it has not been shown whether this is because it enhances plant growth, or inhibits disease growth.


The genome of ''Bacillus anthracis'' is 5,227,293 base pairs long with 5,508 predicted protein-coding regions. The genome of ''B. anthracis'' is highly homologous with the genomes of both ''B. cereus'' and ''B. thuringiensis ''which have also been sequenced. The genome of ''B. anthracis'' has only 141 proteins that do not have a match in the protein set of ''B. cereus''. Almost all of the virulence factors associated with anthrax are coded on its two plasmids and, surprisingly, almost all of these genes have homologues in ''B. cereus.'' This suggests that these virulence-enhancing genes are not specifically unique to ''Bacillus anthracis'', but rather are part of the common array of genes of the ''B. cereus'' group (of which ''B. anthracis'', ''B. cereus'', and ''B. thuringiensis'' are all a part). ''B. anthracis'' also seems to have a decreased capacity for the extensive carbohydrate metabolism seen in ''B. subtilis'', but possesses the genes for the cleavage of extracellular chitin and chitosan, which confirms its close relationship with the insect pathogen ''B. thuringiensis''.
[[File:Periplasmic nitrate reductase.gif|400px|thumb|right|Periplasmic nitrate reductase]]


==Cell Structure and Metabolism==
==Aerobic denitrification==


[[Image:oily_bacillus.jpg|frame|left|''Bacillus subtilis'' in the spore-formation phase. From [http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/success/en/pur/0291e.html Innovation in Europe]]] Bacilli are rod-shaped, Gram-positive, sporulating, aerobes or facultative anaerobes. Most bacilli are saprophytes. Each bacterium creates only one spore, which is resistant to heat, cold, radiation, desiccation, and disinfectants. Bacilli exhibit an array of physiologic abilities that allow them to live in a wide range of habitats, including many extreme habitats such as desert sands, hot springs, and Arctic soils. Species in the genus ''Bacillus'' can be thermophilic, psychrophilic, acidophilic, alkaliphilic, halotolerant, or halophilic and are capable at growing at pH values, temperatures, and salt concentrations where few other organisms can survive.
Denitrification is generally understood to take place under anaerobic condition since oxygen is theoretically more energy yielding [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidizing_agent oxidizing agent] and inhibits the denitrification activity [3,9]. However, aerobic denitrifying organisms are indeed found in a broad range of microbial organisms with different levels of productivity. [9,10] ''M. aerodenitrificans'' is also an aerobic denitrifier which is capable of using two electron acceptors, oxygen and nitrogen, simultaneously. In the presence of oxygen, ''M. aerodenitrificans'' actively use oxygen as a terminal electron acceptor (TEA) and also consume a considerable amount of oxidized nitrogen compounds at significant reduction rates [6]. The end products are either Nitrous oxide (N2O) or Dinitrogen (N2) [1,9] and this process is accounted by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periplasmic_space periplasmic] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrate_reductase nitrate reductase] in ''M. aerodenitrificans'' [3,4]. Even though nitrate reduction is observed in aerobic denitrifiers, the ability of denitrifying activity is dependent on few factors such as concentration of carbon sources nearby, oxygen and bacterial density [3,7].  According to Y. Otani ''et al.'' sufficient amount of carbon concentration or high enough concentration of bacterial density is required so that the aerobic denitrifiers can show the nitrate reduction activity under aerobic conditions [3,7]. Furthermore, decreased amount of oxygen boost the aerobic denitrification [7]. The significant biological advantages are not yet well proven; however, aerobic denitrifiers have an advantage over anaerobic denitrifiers by having a greater adaptability to the environment with fluctuating oxygen level.
[[File:N cycle.jpeg|400px|thumb|Bottom|Nitrogen cycle]]


==Ecology==
==Ecology==


Due to the metabolic diversity in the genus ''Bacillus'', bacilli are able to colonize a variety of habitats ranging from soil and insects to humans. ''Bacillus thuringiensis'' parasitizes insects, and is commercially used for pest control. Although the most well known of the bacilli are the pathogenic species, most'' Bacillus ''are saprophytes that make their living off of decaying matter. Still others, namely ''Bacillus subtilis'', inhabit the rhizosphere, which is the interface between plant roots and the surrounding soil. The plants roots and associated biofilm can have a significant effect on the chemistry of the soil, creating a unique environment. <br /><br /> It has recently been shown that ''Bacillus subtilis'' engages in cannibalism. They use cannibalism as the easy way out in extreme cases. For survival in harsh environments, bacilli can form spores, but it is very costly to them energy-wise. An easier way is for the bacteria to produce antibiotics that destroy neighboring bacilli, so that their contents may be digested allowing for the survival of a few of the bacteria. Essentially, what they are doing is snacking on their fellow bacilli, to tide them over, hoping for the environment to pick back up.
Denitrification is a critical step of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle nitrogen cycle] in which bacteria recycle oxidized nitrogen compounds to dinitrogen. Denitrification itself contributes to many critical environmental consequences such as loss of fixed nitrogen from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosphere biosphere], agricultural soil and cause of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect greenhouse effect] etc. Aerobic denitrifying organisms specifically affect the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrification nitrification] rate in the mixed culture with nitrifying organisms that the higher quantities of aerobic denitrifiers cause reduced nitrifying activity. [4]


==Pathology==
==Potential Application==
[[File:sludge treatment.jpeg|400px|thumb|Right|Aerobic Sludge Treatment]]
In a process for sewage and industrial [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewage_treatment wastewater treatment], where simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrogen is required, aerobic denitrifiers can be implied by making the process more efficient. The conventional wastewater treatment consists of two steps, aerobic nitrification by autotrophs and denitrification under anaerobic condition, making the system more costly and complex [10]. However, the ability of Microvirgula aerodenitrificans to aerobically denitrify can be applied by achieving a nitrogen reduction without further system modification from aerobic condition to anaerobic condition. [7]


Bacilli cause an array of infections from ear infections to meningitis, and urinary tract infections to septicemia. Mostly they occur as secondary infections in immunodeficient hosts or otherwise compromised hosts. They may exacerbate previous infection by producing tissue-damaging toxins or metabolites that interfere with treatment.
==References==
 
[1] Cleenwerck I., De Wachter M., Hoste B., Janssens D., and Swings J. “Aquaspirillum dispar Hylemon et al. 1973 and Microvirgula aerodenitrificans Patureau et al. 1998 are subjective synonyms” IJSEM, 2003, 53:1457-1459.
The most well known disease caused by bacilli is anthrax, caused by ''Bacillus anthracis''. Anthrax has a long history with humans. It has been suggested that the fifth and sixth plagues of Egypt recorded in the Bible (the fifth attacking animals, the sixth, known as the plague of the boils, attacking humans). In the 1600s anthrax was known as the "Black bane" and killed over 60,000 cows. Anthrax has more recently been brought to our attention as a possible method for bioterrorism. The recent anthrax mailings have brought acute public attention to the issue and sparked extensive research into the devastating disease.
 
Anthrax is primarily a disease of herbivores who acquire the bacterium by eating plants with dust that contains anthrax spores. Humans contract the disease in three different ways. Cutaneous anthrax occurs when a human comes into contact with the spores form dust particles or a contaminated animal or carcass through a cut or abrasion. Cutaneous anthrax accounts for 95% of anthrax cases worldwide. During a 2-3 day incubation period the spores germinate, vegetative cells multiply, and a papule develops. Over the following days the papule ulcerates, dries and blackens to form the characteristic eschar. The process is painless unless infected with another pathogen.
 
Gastrointestinal anthrax is contracted by ingesting contaminated meat. It occurs in the intestinal mucosa when the organisms invade the mucosa through a preexisting lesions. It progresses the same way as cutaneous anthrax. Although it is extremely rare in developed countries, it has a very high mortality rate.
 
Pulmonary anthrax is the result of inhaled spores that are transported to the lymph nodes where they germinate and multiply. They are then taken into the blood stream and lymphatics culminating in systemic arthritis which is usually fatal.
[[Image:fig15_1d.jpg|frame|right| Characteristic eschar of anthrax on an arm. From the [http://gsbs.utmb.edu/microbook/ch015.htm University of Texas Medical Branch]]]
 
==Phages==
 
Due to the danger of anthrax being used in biological weapons, research has been put into other methods, besides the highly controversial vaccine, to defend against the deadly disease. A recently discovered bacteriophage, the gamma phage, attacks ''Bacillus anthracis,'' and researches are optimistic about its clinical application. The bacteriophage is highly selective, and is extremely effective in lysing ''B. anthracis'' cells, while ignoring those of its closely related counterparts ''B. cereu''s and ''B. thuringiensis''. The gamma phage has been over 80% effective in treating infected mice that were in the late stages of the disease, essentially rescuing them from almost certain death. There is the obvious concern that anthrax will develop strains that are immune to this treatment, and we will be right back where we started. Researchers say that this is unlikely because the only way to evade this predator would be a mutational change in cell wall structure to prevent the virus from binding, and this would kill the bacterium.
 
 
==Medicine==


Despite the pathogenic capabilities of some bacilli, many other species are used in medical and pharmaceutical processes. These take advantage of the bacteria's ability to synthesize certain proteins and antibiotics. Bacitracin and plymixin, two ingredients in Neosporin, are products of bacilli. Also, innocuous ''Bacillus ''microbes are useful for studying the virulent bacillus species that are closely related.'' B. subtilis'' has multiple carbohydrate pathways, representing the variety of carbohydrates found in the soil. <br />
[2] Murphy M. E., Goodson A., Malnick H., Shah J., Neelamkavil R., and Devi R. “Recurrent Microvirgula aerodenitrificans Bacteremia” J. Clin. Microbiol, 2012, 50(8):2823. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00392-12.
 
==References==
[http://www.horizonpress.com/bac Graumann, P. 2007. ''Bacillus subtilis'': Cellular and Molecular Biology. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-12-7]


[http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/success/en/pur/0291e.html Innovation in Europe: The decoding of the ''Bacillus subtilis'' genome]
[3] Otani Y., Hasegawa K., and Hanaki K. “Comparison of Aerobic Denitrifying Activity Among Three Cultural Species With Various Carbon Sources” Water Science and Technology, 2004, 50:15-22.


[http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v423/n6935/abs/nature01582_fs.html&dynoptions=doi1054748259 Ivanova, Natalia et al. 2003. Genome sequence of Bacillus cereus and comparative analysis with Bacillus anthracis. Nature, Vol. 423: 87-91.]
[4] Patureau D., Bernet N., Bouchez T., Dabert P., Delgenes J.P., and Moletta R. “Biological Nitrogen Removal In a Single Aerobic Reactor By Association of a Nitrifying Ecosystem To an Aerobic Denitrifier, Microvirgula aerodenitrificans” Journal of Molecular Catalysis B: Enzymatic, 1998, 435-439.


[http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v390/n6657/full/390249a0_fs.html Kunst, F. 1997. The complete genome sequence of the Gram-positive bacterium ''Bacillus subtilis''. Nature, 390: 249-256.]
[5] Patureau D., Godon JJ, Dabert P, Bouchez T, Bernet N, Delgenes JP. “Microvirgula aerodenitrificans gen. nov., sp. Nov., a New Gram-negative Bacterium Exhibiting Co-respiration of Oxygen and Nitrogen oxides up to Oxygen-saturated Conditions” International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology, 1998, 48. 775-782.


[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12721629&dopt=Abstract Read, T. D. et al. 2003. The genome sequence of Bacillus anthracis Ames and comparison to closely related bacteria. Nature, Vol. 423: 23-25. ]
[6] Patureau D., Bernet N., Delgenes JP., and Moletta R. “Effect of Dissolved Oxygen And Carbon-Nitrogen Loads On Denitrifaction By Aerobic Consortium” Appl. Microbiol Biotechnol 2000, 54(4): 535-542.  


[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12192391&dopt=Abstract Rosovitz, M. J. & Stephen H. Leppla. 2002. Medicine: Virus deals anthrax a killer blow. Nature, Vol. 418: 825-826.]
[7] Patureau D., Helloin E., Rustrian E., Bouchez T. Delgenes J.P., and Moletta R. “Combined Phosphate and Nitrogen Removal in a Sequencing Batch Reactor Using The Aerobic Denitrifier, Microvirgula aerodenitrificans” Wat. Res., 2001, 35(1): 189–197.


[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v418/n6900/abs/nature01026.html Schuch, Raymond, Daniel Nelson & Vincent A. Fischetti. 2002. A bacteriolytic agent that detects and kills Bacillus anthracis. Nature, Vol. 418: 884-889]
[8] Patureau D., Zumstein E., Delgenes J. P., and Moletta R. “Aerobic Denitrifiers Isolated from Diverse Natural and Managed Ecosystems” Microbial Ecology. 2000, 39(2): 145-152.


[http://gsbs.utmb.edu/microbook/ch015.htm University of Texas Medical Branch: ''Bacillus'']
[9] Lloyd D. “Aerobic Denitrification in Soils and Sediments: From Fallacies to Facts” Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 1993, 8(10): 352-356.


[http://www.bact.wisc.edu/microtextbook/disease/anthrax.html University of Wisconsin-Madison: ''Bacillus anthracis'' and anthrax]
[10] Zhu L., Ding W., Feng L.J., Kong Y., Xu J., and Xu X.Y. “Isolation of Aerobic Denitrifiers And Characterization For Their Potential Application In The Bioremediation of Oligotrophic Ecosystem” Bioresource Technology, 2012, 108: 1-7.


Wipat, Anil & Colin R. Hardwood. 1999. The Bacillus subtilis genome sequence: the molecular blueprint of a soil bacterium. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Vol. 28: 1-9.
==Author==
Page authored by Jia suh, student of University of British Columbia

Latest revision as of 05:15, 27 December 2012

This is a curated page. Report corrections to Microbewiki.

Classification

Domain: Bacteria

Phylum: Proteobacteria

Class: Betaproteobacteria

Order: Neisseriales

Family: Neisseriaceae

Genus: Microvirgula

Species: aerodenitrificans

Species

Microvirgula aerodenitrificans

Introduction

M. aerodenitrificans are abile to performs denitrification under aerobic condition [1,3,5]. While most denitrifiers utilize nitrate and nitrite as terminal electron acceptors under anaerobic conditions, , M. aerodenitrificans reduces both oxygen and nitrogen simultaneously when oxygen is present [5]. However, the biological significance is not defined yet for aerobic denitrification. The habitat for this organism is not specified and found in a various places globally where selective pressure such as fluctuating oxygen concentration occurs[7,8]. These places are mostly sludge, mixture of wastewater treatment and also found in canal and a pond [8]. Until 2012, Microvirgula aerodenitrificans has not been described as a causative organism of clinical infection. However, the first human case has been recently reported in where M. aerodenitrificans was linked to bacteremia in a 15-month-old infant boy with Pompe’s disease. The disease causality of the organism itself is not yet proven but it is shown that such organism can influence vascular access mechanism and may lead to a clinical disease especially for a person with an immunodeficiency [2].

Morphology and Classification

Bipolar Flagellation

Microvirgula aerodenitrificans was first isolated from an activated sludge in 1998 by Patureau et al. This microorganism is a curved, rod shaped (vibrio), motile, gram negative, catalase- and oxidase- positive, and aerobically denitrifying bacteria [5]. It is also a mesophile and neutrophilic organism, where the maximal growth occurs at 35oC and pH 7 [5]. The organism still shows growth at temperature range between 15oC to 45oC and under pH 6 [5]. The size of the cell varies within a growth stage [5]. At the beginning of the growth stage, it has a thin shape but becomes larger and associate with 4-5 cells by the late stationary phase [5]. Based on these phenotypic characteristics, M. aerodenitrificans is the most close to Cornarnonas testosteroni and Pseudomonas alcaligenes [1, 5]. M. aerodenitrificans is a typical Gram negative cell wall structure, which includes two layers of membranes, outer and inner, revealed with an undulating outer membrane [5]. The isolated colonies after a 24 h incubation period were shown to be circular with 1±2 mm diameter and cream-coloured [5] In young cultures, cells occurred as singly or in pairs. Under a negative staining electron microscopy, a thin section of M. aerodenitrificans possesses bipolar tufts of flagella [5].

Metabolism

Nutritional characteristics of Microvirgula aerodenitrificans

Microvirgula aerodenitrificans is a Gram-negative and slightly curved rod shaped bacteria where Microvirgula aerodenitrificans is an aerobic and heterotrophic denitrifier [7]. The organism obtains both carbon and electron sources from different kinds of organic matters; however, it has been shown that this organism can’t readily oxidize sugar compounds [1]. In addition, M. aerodenitrificans is shown to be able to digest and use caprate, malate and hydrolyse arginine based on the API 20 NE tests [1]. In its usual habitat, sludge or a waste treatment, acetate would be used as a common carbon/electron source for metabolism [7]. In addition, as a denitrifier, the organism uses oxidized forms of nitrogen as terminal electron acceptor (TEA) and produces gaseous nitrogen oxide products [10]. Furthermore, unlike other denitrifiers, M. aerodenitrificans performs an aerobic denitrification which is a co-respiration of the two electron acceptors, oxygen and nitrogen compound, at the same time [5].


Periplasmic nitrate reductase

Aerobic denitrification

Denitrification is generally understood to take place under anaerobic condition since oxygen is theoretically more energy yielding oxidizing agent and inhibits the denitrification activity [3,9]. However, aerobic denitrifying organisms are indeed found in a broad range of microbial organisms with different levels of productivity. [9,10] M. aerodenitrificans is also an aerobic denitrifier which is capable of using two electron acceptors, oxygen and nitrogen, simultaneously. In the presence of oxygen, M. aerodenitrificans actively use oxygen as a terminal electron acceptor (TEA) and also consume a considerable amount of oxidized nitrogen compounds at significant reduction rates [6]. The end products are either Nitrous oxide (N2O) or Dinitrogen (N2) [1,9] and this process is accounted by a periplasmic nitrate reductase in M. aerodenitrificans [3,4]. Even though nitrate reduction is observed in aerobic denitrifiers, the ability of denitrifying activity is dependent on few factors such as concentration of carbon sources nearby, oxygen and bacterial density [3,7]. According to Y. Otani et al. sufficient amount of carbon concentration or high enough concentration of bacterial density is required so that the aerobic denitrifiers can show the nitrate reduction activity under aerobic conditions [3,7]. Furthermore, decreased amount of oxygen boost the aerobic denitrification [7]. The significant biological advantages are not yet well proven; however, aerobic denitrifiers have an advantage over anaerobic denitrifiers by having a greater adaptability to the environment with fluctuating oxygen level.

Nitrogen cycle

Ecology

Denitrification is a critical step of the nitrogen cycle in which bacteria recycle oxidized nitrogen compounds to dinitrogen. Denitrification itself contributes to many critical environmental consequences such as loss of fixed nitrogen from biosphere, agricultural soil and cause of the greenhouse effect etc. Aerobic denitrifying organisms specifically affect the nitrification rate in the mixed culture with nitrifying organisms that the higher quantities of aerobic denitrifiers cause reduced nitrifying activity. [4]

Potential Application

Aerobic Sludge Treatment

In a process for sewage and industrial wastewater treatment, where simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrogen is required, aerobic denitrifiers can be implied by making the process more efficient. The conventional wastewater treatment consists of two steps, aerobic nitrification by autotrophs and denitrification under anaerobic condition, making the system more costly and complex [10]. However, the ability of Microvirgula aerodenitrificans to aerobically denitrify can be applied by achieving a nitrogen reduction without further system modification from aerobic condition to anaerobic condition. [7]

References

[1] Cleenwerck I., De Wachter M., Hoste B., Janssens D., and Swings J. “Aquaspirillum dispar Hylemon et al. 1973 and Microvirgula aerodenitrificans Patureau et al. 1998 are subjective synonyms” IJSEM, 2003, 53:1457-1459.

[2] Murphy M. E., Goodson A., Malnick H., Shah J., Neelamkavil R., and Devi R. “Recurrent Microvirgula aerodenitrificans Bacteremia” J. Clin. Microbiol, 2012, 50(8):2823. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00392-12.

[3] Otani Y., Hasegawa K., and Hanaki K. “Comparison of Aerobic Denitrifying Activity Among Three Cultural Species With Various Carbon Sources” Water Science and Technology, 2004, 50:15-22.

[4] Patureau D., Bernet N., Bouchez T., Dabert P., Delgenes J.P., and Moletta R. “Biological Nitrogen Removal In a Single Aerobic Reactor By Association of a Nitrifying Ecosystem To an Aerobic Denitrifier, Microvirgula aerodenitrificans” Journal of Molecular Catalysis B: Enzymatic, 1998, 435-439.

[5] Patureau D., Godon JJ, Dabert P, Bouchez T, Bernet N, Delgenes JP. “Microvirgula aerodenitrificans gen. nov., sp. Nov., a New Gram-negative Bacterium Exhibiting Co-respiration of Oxygen and Nitrogen oxides up to Oxygen-saturated Conditions” International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology, 1998, 48. 775-782.

[6] Patureau D., Bernet N., Delgenes JP., and Moletta R. “Effect of Dissolved Oxygen And Carbon-Nitrogen Loads On Denitrifaction By Aerobic Consortium” Appl. Microbiol Biotechnol 2000, 54(4): 535-542.

[7] Patureau D., Helloin E., Rustrian E., Bouchez T. Delgenes J.P., and Moletta R. “Combined Phosphate and Nitrogen Removal in a Sequencing Batch Reactor Using The Aerobic Denitrifier, Microvirgula aerodenitrificans” Wat. Res., 2001, 35(1): 189–197.

[8] Patureau D., Zumstein E., Delgenes J. P., and Moletta R. “Aerobic Denitrifiers Isolated from Diverse Natural and Managed Ecosystems” Microbial Ecology. 2000, 39(2): 145-152.

[9] Lloyd D. “Aerobic Denitrification in Soils and Sediments: From Fallacies to Facts” Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 1993, 8(10): 352-356.

[10] Zhu L., Ding W., Feng L.J., Kong Y., Xu J., and Xu X.Y. “Isolation of Aerobic Denitrifiers And Characterization For Their Potential Application In The Bioremediation of Oligotrophic Ecosystem” Bioresource Technology, 2012, 108: 1-7.

Author

Page authored by Jia suh, student of University of British Columbia