Leptospira biflexa is a spirochaete bacterium in the genus Leptospira and was the first saprophytic Leptospira genome to be sequenced.
| Leptospira biflexa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Spirochaetota |
| Class: | Spirochaetia |
| Order: | Leptospirales |
| Family: | Leptospiraceae |
| Genus: | Leptospira |
| Species: | L. biflexa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Leptospira biflexa (Wolbach and Binger 1914) Noguchi 1918 (Approved Lists 1980)
| |
Morphology and physiology
editLeptospira biflexa are a helix shaped bacterium containing periplasmic flagella that allow for high motility and can contribute to virulence in pathogenic species and colonization of diverse environments.[1] Studies have identified five bactofilin proteins associated with cytoskeletal properties that are conserved across Leptospiraceae. The LbbD protein family was found to influence the helical pitch distance and the helical structure of L. biflexa;[1] in turn an impact on motility and ability to tolerate cell wall stress was observed.
Importance
editLeptospira biflexa are a species of genus Leptospira consisting of pathogenic and free living saprophytic bacterial species. L. biflexa is a free-living saprophytic spirochete that survives exclusively in external environments and was the first saprophytic Leptospira genome to be sequenced unveiling a total of 3,590 protein-coding genes distributed across three circular replicons.[2] Due to the fast growth rate and ease of genetic manipulation the use of this model bacterium species allows insight to gene functions within Leptospira.[3] L. biflexa contains a mechanical barrier of lipopolysaccharides within the outer membrane to defend against hydrophilic agents and toxic compounds.[3] A study conducted found that there are 29 genes associated with the mutagenic EtBr sensitivity within L. biflexa.[3] The sigma-54 was found to control genes involved in nitrogen uptake and metabolism including amtB1, glnB-amtB2, ntrX and narK which contribute to the long-term environmental survival of Leptospira spp.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b Cameron, Caroline E. (2015), Adler, Ben (ed.), "Leptospiral Structure, Physiology, and Metabolism", Leptospira and Leptospirosis, Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol. 387, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 21–41, doi:10.1007/978-3-662-45059-8_3, ISBN 978-3-662-45059-8, PMID 25388131, retrieved 2021-11-22
- ^ Picardeau, Mathieu; Bulach, Dieter M.; Bouchier, Christiane; Zuerner, Richard L.; Zidane, Nora; Wilson, Peter J.; Creno, Sophie; Kuczek, Elizabeth S.; Bommezzadri, Simona; Davis, John C.; McGrath, Annette (2008-02-13). Davis, Dana (ed.). "Genome Sequence of the Saprophyte Leptospira biflexa Provides Insights into the Evolution of Leptospira and the Pathogenesis of Leptospirosis". PLOS ONE. 3 (2): e1607. Bibcode:2008PLoSO...3.1607P. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001607. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 2229662. PMID 18270594.
- ^ a b c Pětrošová, Helena; Picardeau, Mathieu (2014-10-01). "Screening of a Leptospira biflexa Mutant Library To Identify Genes Involved in Ethidium Bromide Tolerance". Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 80 (19): 6091–6103. Bibcode:2014ApEnM..80.6091P. doi:10.1128/AEM.01619-14. PMC 4178676. PMID 25063661.
- ^ Zhang, Jun-Jie; Hu, Wei-Lin; Yang, Youyun; Li, Hongxia; Picardeau, Mathieu; Yan, Jie; Yang, X. Frank (July 2018). "The sigma factor σ 54 is required for the long-term survival of Leptospira biflexa in water: L. biflexa σ 54 is essential for environment survival". Molecular Microbiology. 109 (1): 63–77. doi:10.1111/mmi.13967. PMC 6174002. PMID 29633391.