Pseudomonas aeruginosa

This article is currently being developed as part of an Eduzendium student project. If you are not involved with this project, please refrain from collaboratively developing it until this notice is removed. Articles that lack this notice, including many Eduzendium ones, welcome your collaboration!

Classification

The genus Pseudomonas holds about sixty different types of species in the kingdom classified as bacteria. The species Pseudomonas aeruginosa is classified as a gram-negative bacterium. Most Pseudomonas aeruginosa is categorized as an obligate aerobe, however sometimes in certain environmental conditions, it acts as a facultative anaerobe. Furthermore, because of the way it obtains its energy, it is considered to be a chemoheterotroph. (Willey)

x
Scientific classification
Kingdom: x Phylum: x Class: x Order: x Family: x Genus: x Species: x
Binomial name
x

Description and significance

The Pseudomonas genus includes bacteria that are straight or slightly curved rods. P. aeruginosa is a rod-shaped bacterium. Its size ranges from 0.5 to 1.0mm by 1.5 to 5.0mm in terms of its length and width.

Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. Describe how and where it was isolated. Include a picture or two (with sources) if you can find them.

Genome structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?

Cell structure and metabolism

Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

Pathology

P. aeruginosa can infect animals, plants and also humans. They cause disease in humans who are already ill, infecting those patients with low resistance in their bodies. P. aeruginosa are opportunistic pathogens and occur mostly in patients who are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, have lower respiratory tract infections, surgical wounds, urinary tract infections, skin (dermatitis) infections, and blood diseases such as cancer (Willey, et al 2008). It is also known as a huge nosocomial infection because this bacterium can grow anywhere where enough nutrients and enough moisture are found.

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.