Stenotrophomonas rhizophila
Classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Proteobacteria
Class: Gammaproteobacteria
Order: Xanthomonadales
Family: Xanthomonadaceae
Species
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Stenotrophomonas rhizophila
Description and Significance
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.
Genome Structure
Stenotrophomonas rhizophila has a single circular genome with a length of 4,648,976 base pairs.[1] It shares a high degree of sequence similarity among members of the Stenotrophomonas genus. All members of the genus share genes for host invasion, antibiotic resistance, and anti-fungal properties. While these genes would normally be present in pathogens, S. rhizophila maintains non-pathogenicity due to its loss of virulence factors and heat shock factors. Instead, S. rhizophila maintains genes for spermidine, plant cell-wall degrading enzymes, and high salinity resistance.[2]
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
S. rhizophila has many important molecular products which help its symbiosis with plants. S. rhizophila produces spermidine which has been shown to increase plant growth as well as provide a molecular base for other polyamines that can protect against drought and salinity.[2] S. rhizophila also excretes glucosylglycerol(GG) into soil as salinity increases. This further increases plants' resistance to salinity as GG helps promote cell division and growth, despite conditions that would favor cell shrinkage.
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
[1] NCBI "Stenotrophomonas rhizophila". NCBI Genome Assembly. 2013. Web. 21 Apr 2017.
Author
Page authored by Esmeralda Martinez and Micah Maassen, students of Prof. Jay Lennon at Indiana University.
