User:S4406254

Clarence Sim Bench E 310816

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria: Terrabacteria: Actinobacteria: Actinobacteria: Micrococcales: Micrococcacae: Rothia

Species

Rothia dentocariosa ATCC 17931

Description and significance

Rothia dentocariosa was first isolated from decaying human teeth in 1949 by Onisi, going by the species name Actinomyces dentocariosus at that time^[1]. It is a Gram positive bacterium that bears semblance to other Actinomyces species, but the Gram positivity of the bacteria has been noted to diminish in filamentous form ^[2]. Most isolates of R. dentocariosa come from the buccal cavity, but the microbe has been found in urine, cerebral spinal fluid and exudate from leg stumps ^[2] .

Microscopic examinations showed pleomorphic branched filaments that segment into coccoid or bacillus forms, not unlike the closely related Actinomyces genus. ^[1][2][3]

Immature colony morphology on trypticase soy agar show granular colonies in aerobic conditions, and similar granular colony formation with filamentous borders in anaerobic conditions. Mature colonies present either as smooth or rough colonies, and can both be present in the culture at the same time. Smooth colonies are convex with well-defined borders, whereas rough colonies appear to have cerebriform surfaces, or folded-edge looking appearances, on the surface of the colony R. dentocariosa show both coagulated and turbid growth in broth^[1][2][3] .

Genome structure

Rothia dentocariosa ATCC 17931, complete genome available in GenBank database.

To date, 2126 genes have been identified from bioinformatics analysis of the 2.5Mbp genome ^[4].

Cell structure and metabolism

Cell wall, biofilm formation, motility, metabolic functions.

Ecology

Aerobe/anaerobe, habitat (location in the oral cavity, potential other environments) and microbe/host interactions.

Pathology

Do these microorganisms cause disease in the oral cavity or elsewhere?

Application to biotechnology

Bioengineering, biotechnologically relevant enzyme/compound production, drug targets,…

Current research

Summarise some of the most recent discoveries regarding this species.

References

References examples

1. Sahm, K., MacGregor, B.J., Jørgensen, B.B., and Stahl, D.A. (1999) Sulphate reduction and vertical distribution of sulphate-reducing bacteria quantified by rRNA slotblot hybridization in a coastal marine sediment. Environ Microbiol 1: 65-74.

2. Human Oral Microbiome

This page is written by<your name> for the MICR3004 course, Semester 2, 2016