4/13/2018 Lysinibacillus fusiformis - Wikipedia

Lysinibacillus fusiformis
Lysinibacillus fusiformis (commonly abbreviated L. fusiformis) is a
gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium of the genus Lysinibacillus.[1]
Lysinibacillus fusiformis
Scientists have yet to completely characterize this microbe's pathogenic Scientific classification
nature.[2][3] Though little is known about this organism, several genome
Domain: Bacteria
sequencing projects for various strains of L. fusiformis are currently
underway.[4] Kingdom: Eubacteria
Phylum: Firmicutes
Class: Bacilli

Contents Order: Bacillales

History Family: Bacillaceae

Etymology Genus: Lysinibacillus
Morphology
Species: L. fusiformis
Ecology
Pathogenicity Binomial name
Metabolism Lysinibacillus fusiformis
Genomics (Ahmed et al., 2007)
Applications to science and medicine
Type strain
References
External links ZC1
ZB2
HK1
History B-1
DSM 2898
Lysinibacillus fusiformis was initially isolated from the surface of beta
vulgaris by German biologist Dr. O. Gottheil in 1901.[5] Dr. Gottheil used a JCM 12229
variety of isolation techniques, which included cultivating the organism on LMG 9816
carrot and beet slices.[5] L. fusiformis was originally known as Bacillus ATCC 7055
fusiformis prior to 2007; at which point it was reclassified to the genus CCUG 28888
Lysinibacillus, along with its close relative Bacillus sphaericus.[6] The NBRC 15717
taxonomic classification of the organism was reassigned as a result of L.
fusiformis' distinctive characteristics, such as physiology, phylogeny, and
Synonyms
peptidoglycan composition. Bacillus fusiformis
Aerobacillus fusiformis
(Meyer and Gottheil, 1901)
Etymology
Bacillus sphaericus subsp. fusiformis
The meaning of "lysini," as it pertains to members of the genus
(Smith et al., 1946)
Lysinibacillus, signifies the presence of lysine, alanine, glutamic acid, and
aspartic acid in the peptidoglycan layer of the cell wall.[6] “Bacillus”, meaning
small-rod, refers to the rod-shaped physiology of the bacterial form.[1] “Fusum” translates to spindle and “forma” denotes
a particular figure, appearance, or configuration. Thus, “fusiformis” is derived from the bacteria’s spindle-like structure.[1]

Morphology
Lysinibacillus fusiformis is gram-positive, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium.[7] Active cells have an approximate length
of 2.5-3.0 micrometers and an approximate width of 0.5-0.9 micrometers.[8] Under strenuous conditions, this microbe can
generate inactive spherical endospores that are resistant to high temperatures, damaging chemicals, and ultraviolet
light.[7] The developing endospores localize either centrally or terminally within the enlarged sporangia and can remain
functional for long periods of time.[7]

Ecology
Lysinibacillus fusiformis is a naturally occurring bacterium and various strains have been isolated from multiple
environments including farming soil and factory wastewater.[5][8] This organism is considered to be altogether mesophilic;
growing best at a temperature range of 17-37 degrees Celsius.[7] L. fusiformis is also considered to be mildly alkaliphilic

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and moderately halophilic; growing best at a pH range of 6-9.5 and an NaCl concentration of 2-7%.[7]

Pathogenicity
In the 20th Century, Lysinibacillus fusiformis was believed to cause a form of pathogenicity in humans relating to tropical
ulcer formations and dermal and/or respiratory infections.[2] Some researchers believed that L. fusiformis infections could
only occur as a symbiotic relationship with certain spirochaete species.[3] Multiple experiments to prove the existence of
pathogenicity have turned up inconclusive[2][3] In 2010, researchers identified a strain of L. fusiformis, B-1, from 16S rRNA
gene analysis.[9] This strain has been found exclusively in the toxin of the puffer fish, Takifugu obscurus.[9] This toxin is a
tetrodotoxin, which is a highly fatal neurotoxin that destroys the central nervous system of humans causing paralysis.[9] L.
fusiformis is shown to be sensitive to the common broad-spectrum antibiotic known as tetracycline.[1]

Metabolism
Lysinibacillus fusiformis tests positive for oxidase and is an obligate aerobe.[7] This means that it can utilize oxygen to
metabolize various sugars and other simple carbohydrates.[7] However, it does not metabolize polysaccharides such as
starch.[7] This organism does not produce acid or gas from the metabolism of D-glucose or any other carbohydrates and
does not reduce nitrate to nitrite.[7] L. fusiformis can hydrolyze casein and gelatin.[7] It can also utilize acetate, citrate,
formate, lactate, and succinate as carbon sources.[7] From a metabolic standpoint, L. fusiformis and Lysinibacillus
sphaericus are nearly identical.[1] As of now, the only known factor that distinguishes these two species is that L.
fusiformis is positive for urease.[1] This means that L. fusiformis can hydrolyze urea to produce ammonia and CO2.[10] In
2011, the strain L. fusiformis ZC1 was shown to retain the ability to reduce chromate to chromium.[8]

Genomics
As of 2014, there are a couple partial 16S rRNA gene sequences (GenBank No. AF169537 and EU430993) that have been
analyzed for L. fusiformis and several whole genome sequences of various strains.[4][11] There are multiple ongoing
genome sequencing projects involving this organism.[4] Currently, these genomic sequences exist as scaffolds and include
the following strains: Lysinibacillus fusiformis H1K, Lysinibacillus fusiformis ZB2, and Lysinibacillus fusiformis ZC1.[4]
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, L. fusiformis ZC1 (BioProject: PRJNA226204) is the
current genomic representative for L. fusiformis.[4] The L. fusiformis ZC1 genome was sequenced using the whole genome
shotgun sequencing method.[8] Genomic analysis of strain ZC1 shows a genome with an approximate length of 4.65
megabases that contains 4,729 protein-coding genes and maintains a relatively moderate GC content (mol%) of 37.3%.[8]
The gene chrA was found in L. fusiformis and encodes a chromate Cr(VI) transporter that confirms chromate Cr(VI)
resistance.[8]

Applications to science and medicine

The mechanism of L. fusiformis’ pathogenicity is not well understood by microbiologists.

References
1. Priest, FG, M. Goodfellow, and C. Todd. "A Numerical Classification of the Genus Bacillus." National Center for
Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 1988. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
2. Smith, E. C. "Inoculation Experiments with Bacillus Fusiformis Isolated from Tropical Ulcer with Observations on the
Bacillus." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 14 Apr. 1933. Web. 29
Apr. 2014.
3. Peters, William H. "Hand Infection Apparently Due to Bacillus Fusiformis."JSTOR. The Journal of Infectious Diseases,
15 June 1911. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
4. "Lysinibacillus Fusiformis." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d.
Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
5. "Botanische Beschreibung Einiger Bodenbakterien." Internet Archive. Illinois, 1901. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
6. Ahmed, Iftikhar et al. "Proposal of Lysinibacillus Boronitolerans Gen. Nov. Sp. Nov., and Transfer of Bacillus
Fusiformis to Lysinibacillus Fusiformis Comb. Nov. and Bacillus Sphaericus to Lysinibacillus Sphaericus Comb. Nov."
IJSEM. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, May 2007. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
7. David Hendricks, Paul De Vos, and William Barny Whitman. The Firmicutes. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Dordrecht: Springer,
2009. Print.
8. He, M et al. "Characterization and Genomic Analysis of a Highly Chromate Resistant and Reducing Bacterial Strain
Lysinibacillus Fusiformis ZC1." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 30
Jan. 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.

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9. Wang, Jun, Yanhui Fan, and Zhigang Yao. "Isolation of a Lysinibacillus Fusiformis Strain with Tetrodotoxin-producing
Ability from Puffer Fish Fugu Obscurus and the Characterization of This Strain." ScienceDirect. Elservier, 15 Sept.
2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
10. Brink, Benita. "Urease Test Protocol." ASM MicrobeLibrary. American Society For Microbiology, 11 Nov. 2011. Web.
29 Apr. 2014.
11. Nakamura, L. K. "Phylogeny of Bacillus Sphaericus-Like Organisms." International Journal of Systematic and
Evolutionary Microbiology 50 (2000): 1715-722. Web.

External links
Type strain of Lysinibacillus fusiformis at BacDive - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase (http://bacdive.dsmz.de/inde
x.php?search=1521&submit=Search)

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