NS Mystery Organism

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Classification

Domain; Phylum; Class; Order; family [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

NS Mystery Organism

Habitat Information

Describe the location and conditions under which the organism was isolated.

Date: 09/06/2017

Time: 18:49:00 CST

Air Temperature: 83 ℉

Humidity: 33%

24 hr rainfall: 0 inches

Pressure: 30.6 inch/ 1,017.0 mb

Solar Radiation: 22.49 ms/m²

Latitude: 30.144673 | Longitude: -97.841463

The organism was isolated at a latitude of 30.144673 and a longitude of -97.841463 on September 6, 2017 at 18:49:00 CST. The conditions under which the NS Mystery Organism was isolated includes it being 83 degrees fahrenheit and 33% humidity. There were 0 inches of rainfall with a solar radiation of 22.49 ms/m^2.

Description and Significance

Describe the appearance (colonial and cellular), possible antimicrobial activity etc. of the organism, and why the organism might be significant.

The colony morphology of NS Mystery Organism has a smooth surface with slightly raised elevation and an entire margin. The organism exhibits creamy yellow color.

Cellular arrangement through microscopic observation is Diplobacilli. The antimicrobial activity test has shown a zone of inhibitions with all the antibiotics used. The Organism was also sensitized by some disinfectants used including Tea tree, PepperMint, Lysol 10% and Bleach 100%.

Genome Structure

Unknown due to complications from sequence reactions.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.


NS Mystery Organism shows to be Gram-positive under Gram stain reaction test with prominent purple color from Crystal Violet.

Under Capsule Stain test, the result is negative without any appearance of Capsule. The Organism also shows Negative Endospore test result under Endospore Stain test. However, under the Motility test, there was a movement away from the stab line into the medium which indicates a Positive Motility test result.

Oxidase test has shown Positive result indicating Aerobic respiration. NS Mystery Organism turns yellow/yellow under Triple Sugar Iron Agar (TSI) test points out fermentation of Lactose and Glucose.

The Organism produces DNase enzyme under DNA hydrolysis test with a clearing around growth in the agar plate. It also shows to have Lipase enzyme with a weak positive test result of Lipid Hydrolysis.

Physiology and Pathogenesis

Biochemical characteristics, enzymes made, other characteristics that may be used to identify the organism; contributions to environment (if any).
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

The Mannitol Salt Agar result for the organism indicated a positive result. The medium shows good yellow growth and is presumed Staphylococci because it is not inhibited by NaCl. The organism can produces acid from Mannitol fermentation and is presumed possible pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus. A gram reaction test was done and indicated that the organism was gram positive. In addition, a positive motility test and a positive DNA hydrolysis was tested. Non-motile organisms which lack flagella, are usually going to form a single line of growth that does not spread into the surrounding area. While a motile bacterium will grow and make a hazy zone around the stab line. Lipid hydrolysis was used to detect lipolytic bacteria, especially in high-fat dairy products. Lipase allows the organisms that produce it to break down lipids into smaller fragments. The test showed a weak positive. The NS Mystery Organism is aerobic, and can use oxygen as a terminal electron acceptor in respiration. This was proven through a positive oxidase test. EMB test is used to encourage the growth of fecal coliforms, to test drinking water. The result is based on lactose fermentation. The results were positive since pink colonies formed, indicating slow and weak fermentation.The organism is not inhibited by phenylethyl alcohol as proven with Phenylethyl Alcohol Agar.

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 Suchanart Apisaksiri and Sally Phonthaasa, students of Prof. Kristine Hollingsworth at Austin Community College.