| Brevinema andersonii | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | Brevinematales Gupta et al. 2014 |
| Family: | Brevinemataceae Paster 2012 |
| Genus: | Brevinema Defosse et al. 1995 |
| Species: | B. andersonii |
| Binomial name | |
| Brevinema andersonii Defosse et al. 1995 | |
Brevinema andersonii (Brev. i. ne' ma. L. adj. brevis, short; Gr. n. nema, thread; N.L. neut. n. Brevinema, a short thread.) (an.derso'ni.i. N.L. gen. n. andersonii, of Anderson), named for John F. Anderson, who first described the organism.[1] This organism is aGram-negative,microaerophilic, helical shaped,chemoorganotrophic organism from the genusBrevinema.[2]Brevinema andersonii is host associated, strains have been isolated from blood and other tissues of short-tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda) and white-footed mice (Peromyscus Zeucopus) and are infectious for laboratory mice and Syrian hamsters.[1][2]B. andersonii is readily identified by restriction enzyme analysis, andSDS-PAGE, or fatty acid composition data. Another identifier forB. andersonii is the sheathed periplasmicflagella in the 1-2-1 configuration. While cells are visible bydark-field orphase-contrast microscopy, they cannot be seen whenbright-field microscopy is used.[1]
Brevinema andersonii was first identified in 1987 by Anderson F. John, Russell C. Johnson, Louis A.Magnarell, Fred W. Hyde, and Theodore G Andreadis in blood and tissues fromBlarina brevicauda (short-tailed shrew) andPeromyscus leucopus (white-footed mouse).[2] Initially thought to be associated withBorrelia burgdorferi this organism was finally brought to light with more advanced growth mediums. Uponelectron microscopy of cultures from this medium, a distinctmorphology stood out from the rest.[2] It was not until 1995 that a push for this organism to be found as a new species. This push came as an article from the Journal of Systematic Bacteriology that exclaimed data supports this organism to be its own genus species was broadcast. Written by D.L. Defosse, R. C. Johnson, B. J. Paster, F. E. Dewhirst, they found genomic evidence to support their claim thatBrevienma andersonii was its own deep rootedspirochete. Their findings showed that this organism was around 75% similar in genome to other knownspirochetes, this showed thatB. andersonii was in ataxon of its own.[1][2]
Brevinema andersonii stains asG- due to the peptidoglycan in the triple-layered outer membrane. Its metabolism ischemoorganotrophic. The organism exists inmicroaerophilic environments.B. andersonii is amotile and flexible helical shaped spiralbacteria that possess a triple-layered outer envelope.[1] Between the outer membrane and the peptidoglycan layer there is a single sheathedflagella in the 1-2-1 configuration, as well as a protoplasmic cylinder.[1] The cells are usually 0.2–0.3μm in diameter and 4-5μm in length.[1] 1–2 waves occur along the cell with wavelengths of 2-3μm.[1] The typical final density of the cells are around 4x10−7 cells per milliliter.[1]
Brevinema andersonii can be readily identified byenzyme analysis andSDS-PAGE, or fatty acid composition data. Anenzyme analysis ofB. andersonii showed activity withbutyrate,valerate,caproate,caprylate,nonanoate,caprate, esterase lipase,alkaline phosphatase,acid phosphatase, andβ-glucuronidase.[1] The fatty acid composition mainly consists ofmyristic acid (14:0),palmitic acid (16:0), andoleic acid (18:l), and smaller amounts of stearic acid (18:1) and linoleic acid (18:2).[1] There were low levels, less than 1%, of other fatty acids detected.B. andersonii was found to becatalase negative.[1]
Brevenima andersonii was found to be grown successfully on a modified BSK medium, referred to as shrew-mouse spirochete medium. The optimum temperature range thatB. andersonii grows at is between 30 °C to 34 °C, butB. andersonii cannot grow below 25 °C. The ideal pH forB. andersonii is neutral with an optimum pH of 7.4. It takes 11 to 14 hours per generation time at optimum conditions.
The type strain ofBrevinema andersonii was designated as ATCC 43811.[1] The G+C content of this organism was fount t be 34 mol%.[1] Unique single-base nucleotide signatures at positions 52•359 (G•C) and 783•799 (U•A) differentiateB. andersonii from other majorspirochete groups.[1] There is also a distinguishing16S rRNA sequence that corresponds to position 724 to 750 inE. coli (5'-GGCAGCUACCUAUGCUAAGAUUGACGC-3').[1] The16S rRNA genome is extracted was a partial genome with 1490 bp,[1] the16S rRNA partial genome reads as:[3]