User:HilbrichS: Difference between revisions

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
Line 31: Line 31:


==Ecology==
==Ecology==
Habitat; symbiosis; contributions to the environment.
Campylobacter typically colonizes in the mucous overlying the mucousal surfaces of mammals and birds. The mucous allows the cells to dart about by using their flagella to maintain a colony within a mucousal flow. Most species of Campylobacter are thermophilic, such as C. jejuni. C. jejuni colonizes in musous lining in the intestines of birds, specifically the cecum of birds which is roughly 42 degrees Celsius. Campylobacter is usually isolated to chickens and other birds and is passed from bird to bird by a common water source, but it can also inhibit other animals that have a lower body temperature or individuals with a weak immune system. Although Campylobacter are typically found in their intestinal niches, it can also be found isolated from fecal contamination. The fecal contamination can
occur in water and food products like meat and milk causing humans to become infected. Although Campylobacter can be found in other environments, it is mostly found within the intestines of mammals and birds. [Dworkin, Martin M., and Stanley Falkow. Proteobacteria: Delta and Epsilon Subclasses, Deeply Rooting Bacteria. New York, NY: Springer, 2006. Print.]


==Pathology==
==Pathology==

Revision as of 18:06, 9 May 2012

This student page has not been curated.

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus HilbrichS

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Delta/Epsilon subdivision; Campylobacterales; Campylobacteraceae [NCBI

Species

C. coli, C. concisus, C.curvus, C.fetus subsp. fetus, C. fetus subsp venerealis, C. gracilis, C. helveticus, C.hominis, C. hyointestinalis subsp hyointestinalis, C. hyointestinalis subsp lawsonii, C.jejuni subsp doylei, C. jejuni jejuni, C. lanienae, C.lari, C. mucosalis, C.rectus, C. showae, C. spoterum, C. upsaliensis, B. ureolyticus [Ketley, Julian M., and Michael E. Konkel. Campylobacter: Molecular and Cellular Biology. Wymondham, UK: Horizon Bioscience, 2005. Print]



Campylobacter

Description and significance

Campylobacter is microaerophilic meaning it needs oxygen to survive, but the level of oxygen must be lower than the atmospheric levels. Too much oxygen and the bacterium could be killed. It is spiral in shape, a flagellate, and is very fragile. Campylobacter can be killed in high levels of oxygen or drying. Most campylobacter is found within the intestinal tract of animals such as dogs, cats, poultry, swine, cattle, monkeys, rodents, wild birds, and even within humans. In humans the bacteria can live and survive without causing illness although often it does. The bacteria cycles through the environment by traveling through the intestinal tracts of animals and exiting the body through feces. The feces is then incorporated into the soil which maintains the low level of oxygen. The animals eat plants and sometimes soil containing the bacteria and the cycle continues. Campylobacter can be found in untreated water that is contaminated with fecal matter and therefore contributes to the cycle of the bacteria. [1] and [2]

Genome structure

Campylobacter species have varying genomes, but one of the most common species that affects humans and livestock is Campylobacter jejuni. Using C. jejuni as an example for the genomic structures, it has a circular chromosome made up of 1.6 million base pairs. The large number of base pairs allows for C. jejuni to code for 1,654 proteins that lead to 54 RNA species that are stable. The C. jejuni species genome is unusual because there is no insertion sequence or phage- associated sequence within it. Within the genome, there is also very little repetition of sequences, but hypervariable regions have been found. The short sequences of homopolymeric nucleotides that are varaible, are often found in regions that code for biosynthesis or for modification to the cell surface structures. It is believed that the hypervariability of the short runs is one of C. jejuni's main survival strategy. [3]

Cell structure and metabolism

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces. Campylobacter are microscopic helically-shaped cells. They look to have a "gulled-wing" appearance due to their spiral shape. Campylobacter have flagella and are describes as having rapid darting motility due to a long polar flagellum at either one or both ends of the cell. The flagellum is very long, often several times the longer than the length of the cell. Motility is slower in a wet environment due to it's sensitivity to levels of oxygen. Campylobacter has an outer covering of lipopolysaccharides due to its Gram negative protperty. The cell surface contains porins that are associated with the peptidoglycan layer as well as adhesive binding proteins. The cells can morph to cocci or elongated cells if left in a prolonged culture, or are exposed to oxygen. [4]

Ecology

Campylobacter typically colonizes in the mucous overlying the mucousal surfaces of mammals and birds. The mucous allows the cells to dart about by using their flagella to maintain a colony within a mucousal flow. Most species of Campylobacter are thermophilic, such as C. jejuni. C. jejuni colonizes in musous lining in the intestines of birds, specifically the cecum of birds which is roughly 42 degrees Celsius. Campylobacter is usually isolated to chickens and other birds and is passed from bird to bird by a common water source, but it can also inhibit other animals that have a lower body temperature or individuals with a weak immune system. Although Campylobacter are typically found in their intestinal niches, it can also be found isolated from fecal contamination. The fecal contamination can occur in water and food products like meat and milk causing humans to become infected. Although Campylobacter can be found in other environments, it is mostly found within the intestines of mammals and birds. [Dworkin, Martin M., and Stanley Falkow. Proteobacteria: Delta and Epsilon Subclasses, Deeply Rooting Bacteria. New York, NY: Springer, 2006. Print.]

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