Legionella cherrii

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Legionella cherrii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Bacteria
Phylum:
Proteobacteria
Class:
γ-proteobacteria
Order:
Legionellales
Family:
Legionellaceae
Genus:
Legionella
Species:
L. cherrii
Binomial name
Legionella cherrii
Type strain
ATCC 35252, BCRC 17044, CCRC 17044, CCUG 29666, CIP 103842, DSM 19213, NCTC 11976, ORW [3]

Legionella cherrii is an aerobic, flagellated, Gram-negative bacterium from the genus Legionella. [1] It was isolated from a heated water sample in Minnesota. [1] L. cherrii is similar to another Legionella species, L. pneumophila , and is believed to cause major respiratory problems. [4]

Contents

History

Discovery

The bacterium was first discovered in 1982 by R. L. Tyndall and C. B. Duncan, who were a part of D.J. Brenner's team that discovered ten new species of Legionella. [1] The isolation process initiated after collecting water samples and transferring them into guinea pig tissues before plating them onto buffered charcoal yeast extract agar. [1] Afterwards, L. cherrii strains were cultured around 36 °C in an environment containing 2.5% carbon dioxide. [1]

Etymology

The genus Legionella is named after the 1976 pneumonia (Legionella pneumophila) outbreak at the American Legion convention at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. [4] The genus was previously unknown, but it was established three years later. [4] The specific term cherrii is derived from the scientist William B. Cherry due to his contributions on the studies of Legionellae. [1]

Characterization and genomics

Genomic information
NCBI genome ID 31576
Ploidy haploid
Genome size 3.71 Mb
Number of chromosomes 1
Year of completion 2014

L. cherrii is rod-shaped and considered an oxidase-negative bacterium since it lacks cytochrome c oxidase and does not use oxygen in its electron transport chain. [1] L. cherrii also has the ability to autofluoresce a bluish-white color which was tested by placing the specimen under a Woods lamp-a mechanism that uses backlight to highlight bacteria-and measured under 366 nm wavelengths. [1] L. cherrii lacks the ability to reduce nitrate, does not contain a urease, and does not convert D-glucose to acid. [1] However, L. cherrii can hydrolyze gelatin. [5] When on a yeast extract agar plate, L. cherrii forms a dissolvable brown pigment containing tyrosine. [5] One or a few flagella aid them in their motility. [1] Legionella organisms’ dependence on L-cysteine and their unique fatty acids and isoprenoid ubiquinone distinguish them from other aerobic bacteria. [6] Like other Legionella species, L. cherrii does not form spores and is an aerobic, Gram-negative bacterium. [1] The genome size was sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000 and found to be 3.7 Mb. [7] Scaffold assembly was conducted using whole genome shotgun sequencing and 13 scaffolds were found in the complete genome. [7] The G/C content for this particular species of Legionella is 38.8 mol%. [7] About 3,111 protein coding genes, four rRNA genes, and 36 tRNA genes were also discovered in the genome. [7]

Ecology

Various strains of L. cherrii were isolated in different areas in 1982. [1] Strains ORW, ORB, and ORZ were discovered in Minnesota in a heated water sample. [1] Another isolate, SC-65-C3, was found in a potable water stern on the island of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. [1] Legionella species are mostly found in freshwater environments. [6] However, various strains of Legionella can congregate in water filtration systems, air conditioning units, humidifiers, and equipment used to combat respiratory infections. [6]

Phylogeny

To determine previously classified Legionella species' relatedness to L. cherrii, Brenner et al. hybridized DNA reactions using an in vitro method with phosphate (32PO4). [1] A similar percentage of 94% or higher was found between the four L. cherrii strains. [1] Reassociation criteria differed between 60 and 75 °C depending on the optimal or stringent growth of the bacteria. [1] None to 0.5% divergence was found in related sequences. [1] L. steigerwaltii was related to L. cherrii the most, and exhibited a 67% relatedness percentage. [1] Following L. steigerwalti, L. dumofii (57%), L. anisa (56%), L. bozemanii (51%), and L. gormanii (47%) showed these levels of similarity. [1] Although L. parisiensis is an autofluorescent species like L. cherrii, it only had a 24% relatedness to L. cherrii. [1] Compared to other Legionella species, L. cherrii is 6-35% related. [1]

Pathogenesis

L. cherrii and other Legionella species are considered to be intracellular bacteria that can cause major respiratory problems in humans. Infection occurs when a human host inhales the organism, which may be carried in humidified air. Distinguishing patients with Legionnaire’s disease is difficult because most are asymptomatic due to Legionnaire’s disease being similar to other types of pneumonia. Although L. pneumophila is the leading cause of Legionnaire’s disease, other Legionella species (such as L. cherrii) likely are capable of causing this disease. [4] The cultural growth period for Legionellae is typically 3–4 days. Lung biopsy or bronchoscopy is not necessary to obtain a clinical isolate from a human patient. Plated acidification or using BCYE agar increases the level of selectivity and allows easier access to collecting a Legionella sample from an infected human’s sputum. [6] Not much is known on how to treat Legionnaire’s disease, but one way could be to reduce the amount of biofilm production the bacteria create. [4]

Related Research Articles

Pontiac fever is an acute, nonfatal respiratory disease caused by various species of Gram-negative bacteria in the genus Legionella. It causes a mild upper respiratory infection that resembles acute influenza. Pontiac fever resolves spontaneously and often goes undiagnosed. Both Pontiac fever and the more severe Legionnaire's disease are caused by the same bacteria, but Pontiac fever does not include pneumonia.

<i>Legionella</i> Pathogenic genus of Gram-negative bacteria

Legionella is a genus of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria that includes the species L. pneumophila, causing legionellosis including a pneumonia-type illness called Legionnaires' disease and a mild flu-like illness called Pontiac fever.

<i>Haemophilus influenzae</i> Species of bacterium

Haemophilus influenzae is a Gram-negative, coccobacillary, facultatively anaerobic capnophilic pathogenic bacterium of the family Pasteurellaceae. H. influenzae was first described in 1892 by Richard Pfeiffer during an influenza pandemic.

<i>Legionella pneumophila</i> Species of bacterium

Legionella pneumophila is a thin, aerobic, pleomorphic, flagellated, non-spore-forming, Gram-negative bacterium of the genus Legionella. L. pneumophila is the primary human pathogenic bacterium in this group and is the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, also known as legionellosis.

Legionellales Order of bacteria

The Legionellales are an order of Proteobacteria. Like all Proteobacteria, they are Gram-negative. They comprise two families, typified by Legionella and Coxiella, both of which include notable pathogens. For example, Q fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii and Legionella pneumophila causes Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever.

Legionella longbeachae is one species of the family Legionellaceae. It was first isolated from a patient in Long Beach, California. It is found predominantly in potting soil and compost. In humans, the infection is sometimes called Pontiac fever. Human infection from L. longbeachae is particularly common in Australia, but cases have been documented in other countries including the United States, Japan, Greece and the UK.

Opportunistic infection Infection caused by pathogens that take advantage of an opportunity not normally available

An opportunistic infection is an infection caused by pathogens that take advantage of an opportunity not normally available. These opportunities can stem from a variety of sources, such as a weakened immune system, an altered microbiome, or breached integumentary barriers. Many of these pathogens do not cause disease in a healthy host that has a non-compromised immune system, and can, in some cases, act as commensals until the balance of the immune system is disrupted. Opportunistic infections can also be attributed to pathogens that cause mild illness in healthy individuals but lead to more serious illness when given the opportunity to take advantage of an immunocompromised host.

<i>Pasteurella multocida</i> Species of bacterium

Pasteurella multocida is a Gram-negative, nonmotile, penicillin-sensitive coccobacillus of the family Pasteurellaceae. Strains of the species are currently classified into five serogroups based on capsular composition and 16 somatic serovars (1–16). P. multocida is the cause of a range of diseases in mammals and birds, including fowl cholera in poultry, atrophic rhinitis in pigs, and bovine hemorrhagic septicemia in cattle and buffalo. It can also cause a zoonotic infection in humans, which typically is a result of bites or scratches from domestic pets. Many mammals and birds harbor it as part of their normal respiratory microbiota.

Pseudomonas oryzihabitans, also known as Flavimonas oryzihabitans, is a nonfermenting yellow-pigmented, gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that can cause sepsis, peritonitis, endophthalmitis, and bacteremia. It is an opportunistic pathogen of humans and warm-blooded animals that is commonly found in several environmental sources, from soil to rice paddies. They can be distinguished from other nonfermenters by their negative oxidase reaction and aerobic character. This organism can infect individuals that have major illnesses, including those undergoing surgery or with catheters in their body. Based on the 16S RNA analysis, these bacteria have been placed in the Pseudomonas putida group.

<i>Pseudomonas stutzeri</i> Species of bacterium

Pseudomonas stutzeri is a Gram-negative soil bacterium that is motile, has a single polar flagellum, and is classified as bacillus, or rod-shaped. While this bacterium was first isolated from human spinal fluid, it has since been found in many different environments due to its various characteristics and metabolic capabilities. P. stutzeri is an opportunistic pathogen in clinical settings, although infections are rare. Based on 16S rRNA analysis, this bacterium has been placed in the P. stutzeri group, to which it lends its name.

<i>Aeromonas salmonicida</i> Species of bacterium

Aeromonas salmonicida is a pathogenic bacterium that severely impacts salmonid populations and other species. It was first discovered in a Bavarian brown trout hatchery by Emmerich and Weibel in 1894. Aeromonas salmonicida's ability to infect a variety of hosts, multiply, and adapt, make it a prime virulent bacterium. A. salmonicida is an etiological agent for furunculosis, a disease that causes sepsis, haemorrhages, muscle lesions, inflammation of the lower intestine, spleen enlargement, and death in freshwater fish populations. It is found worldwide with the exception of South America. The major route of contamination is poor water quality; however, it can also be associated stress factors such as overcrowding, high temperatures, and trauma. Spawning and smolting fish are prime victims of furunculosis due to their immunocompromised state of being.

1976 Philadelphia Legionnaires disease outbreak First occasion of a cluster of a pneumonia cases later identified as Legionnaires disease

The 1976 Legionnaires disease outbreak, occurring in the late summer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States was the first occasion in which a cluster of a particular type of pneumonia cases were determined to be caused by the Legionella pneumophila bacteria.

Legionella anisa is a Gram-negative bacterium, one of more than 40 species in the family Legionellaceae. After Legionella pneumophila, this species has been isolated most frequently from water samples. This species is also one of the several pathogenic forms of Legionella having been associated with rare clinical cases of illness including Pontiac fever and Legionnaires' disease.

Legionella bozemanae is a Gram-negative bacterium in the family Legionellaceae. Its type strain is WIGA. It is associated with human pneumonia.

Legionella gormanii is a Gram-negative bacterium from the genus Legionella which was isolated from soil samples from a creek bank in Atlanta and from the bronchial brush specimen of a patient who suffered from pneumonia. L. gormanii can cause atypical pneumonia together with L. pneumophila.

Legionella jordanis is a Gram-negative bacterium from the genus Legionella which was isolated from the Jordan River in Bloomington, Indiana and from the sewage in DeKalb County, Georgia. L. jordanis is a rare human pathogen and can cause respiratory tract infections.

Legionnaires disease Legionellosis that is characterized by severe form of infection producing pneumonia

Legionnaires' disease is a form of atypical pneumonia caused by any species of Legionella bacteria, quite often Legionella pneumophila. Signs and symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, high fever, muscle pains, and headaches. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. This often begins 2–10 days after exposure.

In microbiology, the term isolation refers to the separation of a strain from a natural, mixed population of living microbes, as present in the environment, for example in water or soil flora, or from living beings with skin flora, oral flora or gut flora, in order to identify the microbe(s) of interest. Historically, the laboratory techniques of isolation first developed in the field of bacteriology and parasitology, before those in virology during the 20th century. Methods of microbial isolation have drastically changed over the past 50 years, from a labor perspective with increasing mechanization, and in regard to the technology involved, and hence speed and accuracy.

Legionella clemsonensis was isolated in 2006, but was discovered in 2016 by Clemson University researchers. It is a Gram-negative bacterium.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Brenner, D.J.; Steigerwalt, A.G.; Gorman, G.W.; Wilkinson, H.W.; Bibb, W.F.; Haekel, M.; Tyndall, R.L.; Campbell, J.; Feeley, J.C.; Thacker, W.L.; Skaliy, P.; Martin, W.T.; Brake, B.J.; Fields, B.S.; McEachern, H.V.; Corcoran, L.K. (1985). "Ten New Species of Legionella" (PDF). International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 35 (1): 50–59. doi: 10.1099/00207713-35-1-50 .
  2. ↑ LPSN lpsn.dsmz.de
  3. ↑ Straininfo of Legionella cherrii
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Fields, B.S.; Benson, R.F.; Besser, R.E. (July 2002). "Legionella and Legionnaires's Disease: 25 Years of Investigation". Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 15 (3): 506–526. doi:10.1128/cmr.15.3.506-526.2002. PMC   118082 . PMID   12097254.
  5. 1 2 Weaver, Robert E.; Feeley, James C. (1979). "Cultural and biochemical characterization of the Legionnaires' disease bacterium" (PDF). Legionnaires: the Disease, the Bacterium and Methodology. pp. 20–25.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Edelstein, P.H. (1987). "Laboratory diagnosis of infections caused by Legionellae". European Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 6 (1): 4–10. doi:10.1007/bf02097182. PMID   3552663. S2CID   32083408.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Kyripides, N.; Huntemann, M.; Han, J.; Chen, A.; Mavromatis, K.; Markowitz, V.; Palaniappan, K.; Ivanova, N.; Schaumburg, A.; Pati, A.; Liolios, K.; Nordberg, H.P.; Cantor, M.N.; Hua, S.X.; Woyke, T. (2015-03-23). "Legionella cherrii DSM 19213 genomic scaffold Q775DRAFT_scaffold00002.2, whole genome shotgun sequence". Joint Genome Institute.Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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