User:BottsE

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A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus BottsE

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinobacteria; Bifidobacteriales; Bifidobacteriaceae; Bifidobacterium [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Bifidobacterium longum

Description and significance

Tissier first discovered the genus Bifidobacterium in the feces of breast-fed infants in 1900, even though the name Bifidobacteria did not arise until the early 1960s (1). Bifidobacteria are Gram-positive, non-spore forming, rod-shaped bacteria. Specifically, Bifidobacterium longum are often found clumped together in irregular B or Y shaped branching patterns, although the morphology can vary depending on growth phase (figure 1) (5). Bifidobacteria average about 2.5 mm in diameter, they are non-motile, and anaerobic (except they may tolerate oxygen in the presence of CO2). In terms of metabolic tests, bifidobacteria are catalase negative, benzidine reaction negative, indole negative, and they do not reduce nitrates (3). They are also starch negative and lactose positive (1). They are typically found associated with hosts (primarily mammals), but they have also been found in insect and bird GITs, among other places (5). For humans, they play an extremely important role in forming a stable microbial colony in the GI tract, among other beneficial functions (8).

Currently, there are 25 known species of Bifidobacteria, including B. longum.

Genome structure

The circular genome of B. longum contains 2, 256, 656 base pairs, with 60% of them being G-C pairs. 86% of these genes are thought to be coding (1,730 coding regions), and 22% are specific to B. longum (unless they have yet to be identified in other species). The genome codes for 4 nearly identical rrn operons, 57 tRNAs that code for all 20 amino acids, and 16 intact insertion sequence elements (7). In terms of plasmids, they have been found in 70% of the sequenced B. longum strains, and 7 different types have been identified. Furthermore, some strains harbor defective lysogenic phages, which are dormant plasmids that still contain DNA (1).

The sequence of B. longum subspecies infantis shows a large inverted region (about 1.3 Mb) in the middle of the genome compared to both B. longum strains. This inversion could possibly be a recent evolutionary event (6).

Cell structure and metabolism

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


Ecology

Habitat; symbiosis; contributions to the environment.

Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Current Research and or Application to Biotechnology

Enter summaries of the most recent research and/or application to biotechnology 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 Dr. Lynn M Bedard, DePauw University http://www.depauw.edu