Micrococcus

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Micrococcus
Micrococcus mucilaginosis 01.png
Micrococcus mucilaginosis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Actinomycetota
Class: Actinomycetia
Order: Micrococcales
Family: Micrococcaceae
Genus: Micrococcus
Cohn 1872
Type species
Micrococcus luteus
(Schroeter 1872) Cohn 1872 (Approved Lists 1980)
Species

Micrococcus is a genus of bacteria in the Micrococcaceae family. Micrococcus occurs in a wide range of environments, including water, dust, and soil. Micrococci have Gram-positive spherical cells ranging from about 0.5 to 3 micrometers in diameter and typically appear in tetrads. They are catalase positive, oxidase positive, indole negative and citrate negative. Micrococcus has a substantial cell wall, which may comprise as much as 50% of the cell mass. The genome of Micrococcus is rich in guanine and cytosine (GC), typically exhibiting 65 to 75% GC-content. Micrococci often carry plasmids (ranging from 1 to 100 MDa in size) that provide the organism with useful traits.

Contents

Some species of Micrococcus, such as M. luteus (yellow) and M. roseus (red) produce yellow or pink colonies when grown on mannitol salt agar. Isolates of M. luteus have been found to overproduce riboflavin when grown on toxic organic pollutants like pyridine. [1]

Taxonomy

Hybridization studies from 1995 indicate that species within the genus Micrococcus are not closely related, showing as little as 50% sequence similarity. [2] This suggests that some Micrococcus species may, on the basis of ribosomal RNA analysis, eventually be re-classified into other microbial genera.

The following species have been reclassified since then:

The following names were not included in the Approved Lists of 1980:

In addition, GTDB (revision 214) indicates that Micrococcus terreus likely belongs in Citricoccus. [3]

Environmental

Micrococci have been isolated from human skin, animal and dairy products, and beer. They are found in many other places in the environment, including water, dust, and soil. M. luteus on human skin transforms compounds in sweat into compounds with an unpleasant odor. Micrococci can grow well in environments with little water or high salt concentrations, including sportswear made with synthetic fabrics. [4] Most are mesophiles; some, like Micrococcus antarcticus (found in Antarctica) are psychrophiles.

Though not a spore former, Micrococcus cells can survive for an extended period of time, both at refrigeration temperatures, and in nutrient-poor conditions such as sealed in amber. [5] [6]

Pathogenesis

Micrococcus is generally thought to be a saprotrophic or commensal organism, though it can be an opportunistic pathogen, particularly in hosts with compromised immune systems, such as HIV patients. [7] It can be difficult to identify Micrococcus as the cause of an infection, since the organism is normally present in skin microflora, and the genus is seldom linked to disease. In rare cases, death of immunocompromised patients has occurred from pulmonary infections caused by Micrococcus. Micrococci may be involved in other infections, including recurrent bacteremia, septic shock, septic arthritis, endocarditis, meningitis, and cavitating pneumonia (immunosuppressed patients).

Industrial uses

Micrococci, like many other representatives of the Actinobacteria, can be catabolically versatile, with the ability to utilize a wide range of unusual substrates, such as pyridine, herbicides, chlorinated biphenyls, and oil. [8] [9] They are likely involved in detoxification or biodegradation of many other environmental pollutants. [10] Other Micrococcus isolates produce various useful products, such as long-chain (C21-C34) aliphatic hydrocarbons for lubricating oils.

Related Research Articles

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Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that, unlike gram-positive bacteria, do not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining method of bacterial differentiation. Their defining characteristic is their cell envelope, which consists of a thin peptidoglycan cell wall sandwiched between an inner (cytoplasmic) membrane and an outer membrane. These bacteria are found in all environments that support life on Earth.

<i>Lactococcus lactis</i> Species of bacterium

Lactococcus lactis is a gram-positive bacterium used extensively in the production of buttermilk and cheese, but has also become famous as the first genetically modified organism to be used alive for the treatment of human disease. L. lactis cells are cocci that group in pairs and short chains, and, depending on growth conditions, appear ovoid with a typical length of 0.5 - 1.5 μm. L. lactis does not produce spores (nonsporulating) and are not motile (nonmotile). They have a homofermentative metabolism, meaning they produce lactic acid from sugars. They've also been reported to produce exclusive L-(+)-lactic acid. However, reported D-(−)-lactic acid can be produced when cultured at low pH. The capability to produce lactic acid is one of the reasons why L. lactis is one of the most important microorganisms in the dairy industry. Based on its history in food fermentation, L. lactis has generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status, with few case reports of it being an opportunistic pathogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halomonadaceae</span> Family of bacteria

Halomonadaceae is a family of halophilic Pseudomonadota.

<i>Micrococcus luteus</i> Species of bacterium

Micrococcus luteus is a Gram-positive to Gram-variable, nonmotile, tetrad-arranging, pigmented, saprotrophic coccus bacterium in the family Micrococcaceae. It is urease and catalase positive. An obligate aerobe, M. luteus is found in soil, dust, water and air, and as part of the normal microbiota of the mammalian skin. The bacterium also colonizes the human mouth, mucosae, oropharynx and upper respiratory tract.

The family Micrococcaceae includes bacterial genera of Gram positive cocci that inhabit the air and skin, such as Micrococcus luteus.

The Gemmatimonadota are a phylum of bacteria established in 2003. The phylum contains two classes Gemmatimonadetes and Longimicrobia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Succinate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase</span>

In enzymology, a succinate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) (EC 1.2.1.24) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

<i>Deinococcus</i> Genus of bacteria

Deinococcus is in the monotypic family Deinococcaceae, and one genus of three in the order Deinococcales of the bacterial phylum Deinococcota highly resistant to environmental hazards. These bacteria have thick cell walls that give them Gram-positive stains, but they also include a second membrane and are therefore closer in structure to Gram-negative bacteria. Deinococcus survive when their DNA is exposed to high doses of gamma and UV radiation. Whereas other bacteria change their structure in the presence of radiation, such as by forming endospores, Deinococcus tolerate it without changing their cellular form and do not retreat into a hardened structure. They are also characterized by the presence of the carotenoid pigment deinoxanthin that give them their pink color. They are usually isolated according to these two criteria. In August 2020, scientists reported that bacteria from Earth, particularly Deinococcus bacteria, were found to survive for three years in outer space, based on studies conducted on the International Space Station. These findings support the notion of panspermia, the hypothesis that life exists throughout the Universe, distributed in various ways, including space dust, meteoroids, asteroids, comets, planetoids or contaminated spacecraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viable but nonculturable</span>

Viable but nonculturable (VBNC) bacteria refers as to bacteria that are in a state of very low metabolic activity and do not divide, but are alive and have the ability to become culturable once resuscitated.

Kocuria is a genus of gram-positive bacteria. Kocuria is named after Miloslav Kocur, a Czech microbiologist. It has been found in the milk of water deer and reindeer. Cells are coccoid, resembling Staphylococcus and Micrococcus, and can group in pairs, chains, tetrads, cubical arrangements of eight, or irregular clusters. They have rigid cell walls and are either aerobic or facultative anaerobic. Kocuria can usually survive in mesophilic temperatures.

<i>Kytococcus sedentarius</i> Species of bacterium

Kytococcus sedentarius is a marine dwelling Gram positive bacterium in the genus Kytococcus. It is known for the production of polyketide antibiotics as well as for its role as an opportunistic pathogen. It is strictly aerobic and can only grow when amino acids are provided.

Kytococcus is a genus of Actinomycetota bacteria.

Rothia mucilaginosa is a Gram-positive, coagulase-negative, encapsulated, non-spore-forming and non-motile coccus, present in clusters, tetrads or pairs that is a part of the normal oropharyngeal flora. Belonging to the family Micrococcaceae, it was first isolated from the mucous membrane of the cheek and gingiva. It is an oral commensal, that has been linked to causing severe bacteremia in immunocompromised patients. This bacterium has also been shown to form biofilms, similar to that of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. R. mucilaginosa is a cohabitant in the lower airways of patients with chronic lung diseases such as bronchiectasis, however has been shown to elicit anti-inflammatory effects.

Phycisphaerae is a class of aquatic bacteria. They reproduce by budding and are found in samples of algae in marine water. Organisms in this group are spherical and have a holdfast, at the tip of a thin cylindrical extension from the cell body called the stalk, at the nonreproductive end that helps them to attach to each other during budding.

Dermacoccus is a Gram-positive, non-spore-forming, chemoorganotrophic and aerobic genus of bacteria from the family of Dermacoccaceae.

Phycisphaeraceae is a family of bacteria.

Neomicrococcus is a genus of bacteria from the family Micrococcaceae.

Balneolales is an order of bacteria.

Isosphaeraceae is a family of bacteria.

References

  1. ↑ Sims GK, Sommers LE, Konopka A (1986). "Degradation of Pyridine by Micrococcus luteus Isolated from Soil". Appl Environ Microbiol. 51 (5): 963–968. PMC   238995 . PMID   16347070.
  2. ↑ Stackebrandt, Erko, et al. "Taxonomic Dissection of the Genus Micrococcus: Kocuria gen. nov., Nesterenkonia gen. nov., Kytococcus gen. nov., Dermacoccus gen. nov., and Micrococcus Cohn 1872 gen. emend." International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 45.4 (1995): 682-692.
  3. ↑ "GTDB GCF_900116905.1". gtdb.ecogenomic.org. GTDB Taxonomy: d__Bacteria; p__Actinomycetota; c__Actinomycetia; o__Actinomycetales; f__Micrococcaceae; g__Citricoccus; s__Citricoccus terreus
  4. ↑ "Why does my exercise clothing smell?". BBC News . 2016-08-31. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  5. ↑ Harrison AP, Pelczar MJ (1963). "Damage and Survival of Bacteria during Freeze-Drying and during Storage over a Ten-Year Period" (PDF). Journal of General Microbiology. 30 (3): 395–400. doi: 10.1099/00221287-30-3-395 . PMID   13952971 . Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  6. ↑ Greenblat CL, Baum J, Klein BY, Nachshon S, Koltunov V, Cano RJ (2004). "Micrococcus luteus – Survival in Amber". Microbial Ecology. 48 (1): 120–127. doi:10.1007/s00248-003-2016-5. PMID   15164240.
  7. ↑ Smith K, Neafie R, Yeager J, Skelton H (1999). "Micrococcus folliculitis in HIV-1 disease". Br J Dermatol. 141 (3): 558–61. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.03060.x. PMID   10583069.
  8. ↑ Doddamani H, Ninnekar H (2001). "Biodegradation of carbaryl by a Micrococcus species". Curr Microbiol. 43 (1): 69–73. doi:10.1007/s002840010262. PMID   11375667.
  9. ↑ Sims GK, O'loughlin EJ (1992). "Riboflavin Production during Growth of Micrococcus luteus on Pyridine". Appl Environ Microbiol. 58 (10): 3423–3425. PMC   183117 . PMID   16348793.
  10. ↑ Zhuang W, Tay J, Maszenan A, Krumholz L, Tay S (2003). "Importance of Gram-positive naphthalene-degrading bacteria in oil-contaminated tropical marine sediments". Lett Appl Microbiol. 36 (4): 251–7. doi: 10.1046/j.1472-765X.2003.01297.x . PMID   12641721.
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