Corynebacterium Explained

Corynebacterium is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria and most are aerobic. They are bacilli (rod-shaped), and in some phases of life they are, more specifically, club-shaped, which inspired the genus name (coryneform means "club-shaped").

They are widely distributed in nature in the microbiota of animals (including the human microbiota) and are mostly innocuous, most commonly existing in commensal relationships with their hosts.[1] Some, such as C. glutamicum, are commercially and industrially useful.[2] [3] [4] [5] Others can cause human disease, including, most notably, diphtheria, which is caused by C. diphtheriae. As with various species of microbiota (including their relatives in the genera Arcanobacterium and Trueperella), they usually are not pathogenic, but can occasionally opportunistically capitalize on atypical access to tissues (via wounds) or weakened host defenses.

Taxonomy

The genus Corynebacterium was created by Lehmann and Neumann in 1896 as a taxonomic group to contain the bacterial rods responsible for causing diphtheria. The genus was defined based on morphological characteristics. Based on studies of 16S rRNA, they have been grouped into the subdivision of Gram-positive Eubacteria with high G:C content, with close phylogenetic relationship to Arthrobacter, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, and Streptomyces.[6]

The term comes from Greek κορύνη, Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: korýnē 'club, mace, staff, knobby plant bud or shoot'[7] and βακτήριον, Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: baktḗrion 'little rod'.[8] The term "diphtheroids" is used to represent corynebacteria that are nonpathogenic; for example, C. diphtheriae would be excluded. The term diphtheroid comes from Greek διφθέρα, Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: diphthérā 'prepared hide, leather'.[9]

Genomics

Comparative analysis of corynebacterial genomes has led to the identification of several conserved signature indels (CSIs) that are unique to the genus. Two examples of CSIs are a two-amino-acid insertion in a conserved region of the enzyme phosphoribose diphosphate:decaprenyl-phosphate phosphoribosyltransferase and a three-amino-acid insertion in acetate kinase, both of which are found only in Corynebacterium species. Both of these indels serve as molecular markers for species of the genus Corynebacterium. Additionally, 16 conserved signature proteins, which are uniquely found in Corynebacterium species, have been identified. Three of these have homologs found in the genus Dietzia, which is believed to be the closest related genus to Corynebacterium. In phylogenetic trees based on concatenated protein sequences or 16S rRNA, the genus Corynebacterium forms a distinct clade, within which is a distinct subclade, cluster I. The cluster is made up of the species C. diphtheriae, C. pseudotuberculosis, C. ulcerans, C. aurimucosum, C. glutamicum, and C. efficiens. This cluster is distinguished by several conserved signature indels, such as a two-amino-acid insertion in LepA and a seven- or eight-amino-acid insertions in RpoC. Also, 21 conserved signature proteins are found only in members of cluster I. Another cluster has been proposed, consisting of C. jeikeium and C. urealyticum, which is supported by the presence of 19 distinct conserved signature proteins which are unique to these two species.[10] Corynebacteria have a high G+C content ranging from 46-74 mol%.[11]

Characteristics

The principal features of the genus Corynebacterium were described by Collins and Cummins, for Coryn Taylor in 1986.[12] They are gram-positive, catalase-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile, rod-shaped bacteria that are straight or slightly curved.[13] Metachromatic granules are usually present representing stored phosphate regions. Their size falls between 2 and 6 μm in length and 0.5 μm in diameter. The bacteria group together in a characteristic way, which has been described as the form of a "V", "palisades", or "Chinese characters". They may also appear elliptical. They are aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, chemoorganotrophs. They are pleomorphic through their lifecycles, they occur in various lengths, and they frequently have thickenings at either end, depending on the surrounding conditions.[14]

Some corynebacteria are lipophilic (such as CDC coryneform groups F-1 and G, C. accolens, C. afermentans subsp. lipophilum, C. bovis, C. jeikeium, C. macginleyi, C. uropygiale, and C. urealyticum), but medically relevant corynebacteria are typically not.[15] The nonlipophilic bacteria may be classified as fermentative (such as C. amycolatum; C. argentoratense, members of the C. diphtheriae group, C. glucuronolyticum, C. glutamicum, C. matruchotii, C. minutissimum, C. striatum, and C. xerosis) or nonfermentative (such as C. afermentans subsp. afermentans, C. auris, C. pseudodiphtheriticum, and C. propinquum).[16]

Cell wall

The cell wall is distinctive, with a predominance of mesodiaminopimelic acid in the murein wall and many repetitions of arabinogalactan, as well as corynemycolic acid (a mycolic acid with 22 to 26 carbon atoms), bound by disaccharide bonds called L-Rhap-(1 → 4)--D-GlcNAc-phosphate. These form a complex commonly seen in Corynebacterium species: the mycolyl-AG–peptidoglican (mAGP).[17] Unlike most corynebacteria, Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii does not contain mycolic acids.[18]

Culture

Corynebacteria grow slowly, even on enriched media. In nutritional requirements, all need biotin to grow. Some strains also need thiamine and PABA. Some of the Corynebacterium species with sequenced genomes have between 2.5 and 3.0 million base pairs. The bacteria grow in Loeffler's medium, blood agar, and trypticase soy agar (TSA). They form small, grayish colonies with a granular appearance, mostly translucent, but with opaque centers, convex, with continuous borders. The color tends to be yellowish-white in Loeffler's medium. In TSA, they can form grey colonies with black centers and dentated borders that either resemble flowers (C. gravis), continuous borders (C. mitis), or a mix between the two forms (C. intermedium).

Habitat

Corynebacterium species occur commonly in nature in soil, water, plants, and food products. The non-diphtheroid Corynebacterium species can even be found in the mucosa and normal skin flora of humans and animals. Unusual habitats, such as the preen gland of birds, have been recently reported for Corynebacterium uropygiale.[19] Some species are known for their pathogenic effects in humans and other animals. Perhaps the most notable one is C. diphtheriae, which acquires the capacity to produce diphtheria toxin only after interacting with a bacteriophage.[20] Other pathogenic species in humans include: C. amycolatum, C. striatum, C. jeikeium, C. urealyticum, and C. xerosis;[21] [22] [23] [24] [25] all of these are important as pathogens in immunosuppressed patients. Pathogenic species in other animals include C. bovis and C. renale.[26] This genus has been found to be part of the human salivary microbiome.[27]

Role in disease

See main article: Diphtheria. The most notable human infection is diphtheria, caused by C. diphtheriae. It is an acute, contagious infection characterized by pseudomembranes of dead epithelial cells, white blood cells, red blood cells, and fibrin that form around the tonsils and back of the throat.[28] In developed countries, it is an uncommon illness that tends to occur in unvaccinated individuals, especially school-aged children, elderly, neutropenic or immunocompromised patients, and those with prosthetic devices such as prosthetic heart valves, shunts, or catheters. It is more common in developing countries[29] It can occasionally infect wounds, the vulva, the conjunctiva, and the middle ear. It can be spread within a hospital.[30] The virulent and toxigenic strains produce an exotoxin formed by two polypeptide chains, which is itself produced when a bacterium is transformed by a gene from the β prophage.[31]

Several species cause disease in animals, most notably C. pseudotuberculosis, which causes the disease caseous lymphadenitis, and some are also pathogenic in humans. Some attack healthy hosts, while others tend to attack the immunocompromised. Effects of infection include granulomatous lymphadenopathy, pneumonitis, pharyngitis, skin infections, and endocarditis. Corynebacterial endocarditis is seen most frequently in patients with intravascular devices.[32] Several species of Corynebacterium can cause trichomycosis axillaris. C. striatum may cause axillary odor.[33] C. minutissimum causes erythrasma.

Industrial uses

Nonpathogenic species of Corynebacterium are used for important industrial applications, such as the production of amino acids[34] and nucleotides, bioconversion of steroids,[35] degradation of hydrocarbons,[36] cheese aging,[37] and production of enzymes.[38] Some species produce metabolites similar to antibiotics: bacteriocins of the corynecin-linocin type,[39] [40] antitumor agents,[41] etc. One of the most studied species is C. glutamicum, whose name refers to its capacity to produce glutamic acid in aerobic conditions.[42]

L-Lysine production is specific to C. glutamicum in which core metabolic enzymes are manipulated through genetic engineering to drive metabolic flux towards the production of NADPH from the pentose phosphate pathway, and L-4-aspartyl phosphate, the commitment step to the synthesis of L-lysine, lysC,,, and . These enzymes are up-regulated in industry through genetic engineering to ensure adequate amounts of lysine precursors are produced to increase metabolic flux. Unwanted side reactions such as threonine and asparagine production can occur if a buildup of intermediates occurs, so scientists have developed mutant strains of C. glutamicum through PCR engineering and chemical knockouts to ensure production of side-reaction enzymes are limited. Many genetic manipulations conducted in industry are by traditional cross-over methods or inhibition of transcriptional activators.[43]

Expression of functionally active human epidermal growth factor has been brought about in C. glutamicum,[44] thus demonstrating a potential for industrial-scale production of human proteins. Expressed proteins can be targeted for secretion through either the general secretory pathway or the twin-arginine translocation pathway.[45]

Unlike gram-negative bacteria, the gram-positive Corynebacterium species lack lipopolysaccharides that function as antigenic endotoxins in humans.

Species

Corynebacterium comprises the following species:[46]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. 10.1099/ijs.0.02950-0 . 15143043 . Corynebacterium caspium sp. nov., from a Caspian seal (Phoca caspica) . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology . 54 . 3 . 925–8 . 2004 . Collins . M. D. . free .
  2. Poetsch. A.. Proteomics of corynebacteria: From biotechnology workhorses to pathogens. Proteomics. 11. 15. 3244–3255. 10.1002/pmic.201000786. 21674800. 2011. 44274690.
  3. Book: Burkovski A. . Corynebacteria: Genomics and Molecular Biology . Caister Academic Press . 2008 . 978-1-904455-30-1.
  4. Kinoshita, Shukuo; Udaka, Shigezo; Shimono, Masakazu . 1957 . Studies on the amino acid fermentation. Part 1. Production of L-glutamic acid by various microorganisms . The Journal of General and Applied Microbiology . 3 . 3 . 193–205 . 10.2323/jgam.3.193 . free . 15965888.
  5. Kinoshita, Shukuo. 1972-11-24 . Amino-acid Producnon by the Fermentation Process . Nature . 240 . 5378. 211 . 10.1038/240211a0 . free . 4569416.
  6. 2439888 . 373105 . 1987 . Woese . C. R. . Bacterial evolution . Microbiological Reviews . 51 . 2 . 221–71 . 10.1128/MMBR.51.2.221-271.1987 .
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  11. Book: K.A. . Bernard . G. . Funke . Genus I. Corynebacterium . M. . Goodfellow . P. . Kampfer . H.J. . Busse . M.E. . Trujillo . K. . Suzuki . W. . Ludwig . W.B. . Whitman . Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology . 2nd . Springer . 2012 . 245 .
  12. Book: Collins . M. D. . Cummins . C. S. . 1986 . Genus Corynebacterium Lehmann and Neumann 1896, 350AL . Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology . 2 . 1266–76 . P. H. A. . Sneath . N. S. . Mair . M. E. . Sharpe . J. G. . Holt . Baltimore . Williams & Wilkins .
  13. 10.1099/ijs.0.02394-0 . 12807190 . Corynebacterium glaucum sp. nov . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology . 53 . 3 . 705–9 . 2003 . Yassin . A. F. . free .
  14. 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1977.tb00689.x . 406255 . The Cell Wall Composition and Distribution of Free Mycolic Acids in Named Strains of Coryneform Bacteria and in Isolates from Various Natural Sources . Journal of Applied Bacteriology . 42 . 2 . 229–52 . 1977 . Keddie . R. M. . Cure . G. L. .
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  16. 8993861 . 172946 . 1997 . Funke . G . Clinical microbiology of coryneform bacteria . Clinical Microbiology Reviews . 10 . 1 . 125–59 . von Graevenitz . A . Clarridge Je . 3rd . Bernard . K. A. . 10.1128/CMR.10.1.125 .
  17. 10.1093/glycob/cwl066 . 17088267 . Topology and mutational analysis of the single Emb arabinofuranosyltransferase of Corynebacterium glutamicum as a model of Emb proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis . Glycobiology . 17 . 2 . 210–9 . 2006 . Seidel . M. . Alderwick . L. J. . Sahm . H. . Besra . G. S. . Eggeling . L. . free .
  18. 10.1099/00207713-48-4-1449 . 9828448 . Note: Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii sp. nov., a novel corynebacterium that does not contain mycolic acids . International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology . 48 . 4 . 1449–54 . 1998 . Collins . M. D. . Falsen . E. . Akervall . E. . Sjoden . B. . Alvarez . A. . 3. free .
  19. 10.1016/j.syapm.2015.12.001 . 26776107 . Corynebacterium uropygiale sp. nov., isolated from the preen gland of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) . Systematic and Applied Microbiology . 39 . 2 . 88–92 . 2016 . Braun . Markus Santhosh . Zimmermann . Stefan . Danner . Maria . Rashid . Harun-or . Wink . Michael .
  20. 6270058 . 216174 . 1981 . Costa . J. J. . Restriction map of corynebacteriophages beta c and beta vir and physical localization of the diphtheria tox operon . Journal of Bacteriology . 148 . 1 . 124–30 . Michel . J. L. . Rappuoli . R . Murphy . J. R. . 10.1128/JB.148.1.124-130.1981 .
  21. 10.1016/S0213-005X(01)72578-5 . 11333587 . Bacteriemias significativas por Corynebacterium amycolatum: Un patógeno emergente . Significant bacteremias by Corynebacterium amycolatum: an emergent pathogen . es . Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica . 19 . 3 . 103–6 . 2001 . Oteo . Jesús . Aracil . Belén . Ignacio Alós . Juan . Luis Gómez-Garcés . Jose . 72540272 .
  22. 10.1016/S0732-8893(97)00193-4 . 9488824 . Prospective Study of Catalase-positive Coryneform Organisms in Clinical Specimens: Identification, Clinical Relevance, and Antibiotic Susceptibility . Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease . 30 . 1 . 7–15 . 1998 . Lagrou . K . Verhaegen . J . Janssens . M . Wauters . G . Verbist . L .
  23. 10.7547/87507315-85-6-338 . 7602508 . Osteomyelitis caused by Corynebacterium jeikeium . Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association . 85 . 6 . 338–9 . 1995 . Boc . SF . Martone . JD .
  24. 10.1128/aac.23.3.506 . 6847177 . 184682 . R Plasmids in Corynebacterium xerosis Strains . Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy . 23 . 3 . 506–8 . 1983 . Kono . M. . Sasatsu . M. . Aoki . T. .
  25. 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1983.tb00305.x . Deoxyribonucleic acid base composition of Corynebacterium diphtheriaeand other corynebacteria with cell wall type IV . FEMS Microbiology Letters . 16 . 2–3 . 291–5 . 1983 . Pitcher . D.G. . free .
  26. 8720950 . 1996 . Hirsbrunner . G . Nephrektomie nach chronischer, unilateraler, eitriger Pyelonephritis beim Rind . Nephrectomy for chronic, unilateral suppurative pyleonephritis in cattle . de . Tierarztliche Praxis . 24 . 1 . 17–21 . Lang . J . Nicolet . J . Steiner . A .
  27. Preliminary analysis of salivary microbiome and their potential roles in oral lichen planus. Kun. Wang. Wenxin. Lu. Qichao. Tu. Yichen. Ge. Jinzhi. He. Yu. Zhou. Yaping. Gou. Joy D Van. Nostrand. Yujia. Qin. Jiyao. Li. Jizhong. Zhou. Yan. Li. Liying. Xiao. Xuedong. Zhou. 3. 10 March 2016. Scientific Reports. 6. 1. 22943. 10.1038/srep22943. 26961389. 4785528. 2016NatSR...622943W.
  28. Web site: Difteria: MedlinePlus enciclopedia médica. www.nlm.nih.gov.
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  31. SIB: Viral exotoxin. Expasy: ViralZone. Accessed 2 Feb 2021
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  33. 10.1111/j.1467-2494.2004.00255.x . 18492161 . Isolation of a bacterial enzyme releasing axillary malodor and its use as a screening target for novel deodorant formulations1 . International Journal of Cosmetic Science . 27 . 2 . 115–22 . 2005 . Natsch . A. . Gfeller . H. . Gygax . P. . Schmid . J. . 22554216 .
  34. Book: Yamada . K. . Kinoshita . S. . Tsunoda . T. . Aida . K. . 1972 . The Microbial Production of Amino Acids . Wiley . New York .
  35. 10.1002/bit.260220110 . 7350926 . Steroid transformation at high substrate concentrations using immobilized Corynebacterium simplex cells . Biotechnology and Bioengineering . 22 . 1 . 119–36 . 1980 . Constantinides . Alkis . 29703826 .
  36. 422512 . 218359 . 1979 . Cooper . D. G. . Analysis of corynomycolic acids and other fatty acids produced by Corynebacterium lepus grown on kerosene . Journal of Bacteriology . 137 . 2 . 795–801 . Zajic . J. E. . Gracey . D. E. . 10.1128/JB.137.2.795-801.1979 .
  37. 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1985.tb01591.x . Phenylalanine and tyrosine catabolism in some cheese coryneform bacteria . FEMS Microbiology Letters . 26 . 2 . 201–5 . 1985 . Lee . Chang-Won . Lucas . Serge . Desmazeaud . Michel J. . free .
  38. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0134(20000401)39:1<68::AID-PROT7>3.0.CO;2-Y . 10737928 . Molecular modeling of substrate binding in wild-type and mutant Corynebacteria 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate reductases . Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics . 39 . 1 . 68–75 . 2000 . Khurana . Sumit . Sanli . Gulsah . Powers . David B. . Anderson . Stephen . Blaber . Michael . 3. 10.1.1.661.3412 . 24526523 .
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  40. 10.1271/bbb1961.36.2223 . Production of Antibacterial Compounds Analogous to Chloramphenicol by a n-Paraffin-grown Bacterium . Agricultural and Biological Chemistry . 36 . 12 . 2223–8 . 1972 . Suzuki . Takeo . Honda . Haruo . Katsumata . Ryoichi . free .
  41. Book: 10.1016/S0065-230X(08)60090-1 . 343523 . Antitumor Activity of Corynebacterium Parvum . 26 . 257–306 . 1978 . Milas . Luka . Scott . Martin T. . 978-0-12-809878-3 . Marvella E. . Ford . Dennis K. . Watson . Advances in Cancer Research . Cancer Disparities . 1st.
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  46. Web site: Euzéby JP, Parte AC . Corynebacterium . June 21, 2022 . List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN).