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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Spirochaeta alkalica sp. nov., Spirochaeta africana sp. nov., and Spirochaeta asiatica sp. nov., alkaliphilic anaerobes from the Continental Soda Lakes in Central Asia and the East African Rift.

During a study of microbial communities in athalassic bodies of water, three new species within the genus Spirochaeta were described. These are alkaliphilic Spirochaeta alkalica sp. nov. Z-7491 (DSM 8900) and halophilic S. africana sp. nov. Z-7692 (DSM 8902) from the soda-depositing Lake Magadi in Central Africa and haloalkaliphilic S. asiatica sp. nov. Z-7591 (DSM 8901) from Lake Khatyn, Central Asia. These mesophilic spirochetes develop at pHs of > 9 as anaerobic saccharolytic dissipotrophs. The DNA base compositions (moles percent G+C) of the strains were as follows: S. alkalica Z-7491, 57.1; S. africana Z-7692, 56.1; and S. asiatica Z-7591, 49.2. The optimum growth parameters (temperature, pH, and NaCl concentration [percent, wt/vol], respectively) were as follows: for S. alkalica Z-7491, 35 degrees C, 9.2, and 5 to 7%; for S. africana Z-7692, 35 degrees C, 9.3, and 5 to 7%; and for S. asiatica Z-7591, 35 degrees C, 8.9, and 3 to 6%. The products of glucose fermentation were acetate, hydrogen, ethanol, and lactate, in different proportions, for S. alkalica and S. africana; for S. asiatica, they were acetate, ethanol, and lactate. S. asiatica is strictly anaerobic, while S. alkalica and S. africana are rather aerotolerant. All three species group within the radiation of the majority of the species of the genus Spirochaeta. Studies of the genes encoding 16S rRNA indicate a possible fanning out of the phylogenetic tree of spirochetes.

Africa, Eastern↗
PubMed1987

Tubulinlike protein from Spirochaeta bajacaliforniensis.

Tubulin proteins are the fundamental subunits of all polymeric microtubule-based eukaryotic structures. Long, hollow structures each composed of 13 protofilaments as revealed by electron microscopy, microtubules (240 angstroms in diameter) are nearly ubiquitous in eukaryotes. These proteins have been the subject of intense biochemical and biophyiscal interest since the early 1970s and are of evolutionary interest as well. If tubulin-based structures (i.e., neurotubules, mitotic spindle tubules, centrioles, kinetosomes, axonemes, etc.) evolved from spirochetes by way of motility symbioses, tubulin homologies with spirochete proteins should be detectable. Tubulin proteins are widely thought to be limited to eukaryotes. Yet both azotobacters and spirochetes have shown immunological cross-reactivity with antitubulin antibodies. In neither of these studies was tubulin isolated nor any specific antigen identified as responsible for the immunoreactivity. Furthermore, although far less uniform in structure than eukaryotic microtubules, various cytoplasmic fibers and tubules (as seen by electron microscopy) have been reported in several types of prokaryotes (e.g., Spirochaeta; large termite spirochetes; treponemes; cyanobacteria; and Azotobacter. This work forms a part of our long-range study of the possible prokaryotic origin of tubulin and microtubules. Spirochetes are helically shaped gram-negative motile prokaryotes. They differ from all other bacterial in that the position of their flagella is periplasmic: their flagella lie between the inner and outer membranes of the gram-negative cell wall. Some of the largest spirochetes have longitudinally aligned 240 angstrom microtubules. Unfortunately, in spite of many attempts, all of the larger spirochetes (family Pillotaceae) with well-defined cytoplasmic tubules and antitubulin immunoreactivity are not cultivable. However, a newly described spirochete species (Spirochaeta bajacaliforniensis) possessing cytoplasmic fibers displays antitubulin immunoreactivity in whole-cell preparations. Since preliminary observations suggested that Spirochaeta bajacaliforniensis proteins may be related to eukaryotic tubulins, their characterization was undertaken. Brain tubulin can be purified by utilizing its ability to polymerize at warm temperatures and to depolymerize in the cold. After several cycles of sedimentation and redissolution the microtubule fraction is comprised of 75% tubulin and 20% high molecular mass microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). In this paper we report that components of cell lysates, prepared from a spirochete that contains cytoplasmic fibers (Spirochaeta bajacaliforniensis), also exhibit the property of temperature-dependent cyclical sedimentation. Additionally we report the identification and characterization of the polypeptide responsible for cross-reactivity with antitubulin antiserum.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Spirochaeta americana sp. nov., a new haloalkaliphilic, obligately anaerobic spirochaete isolated from soda Mono Lake in California.

A novel, obligately anaerobic, mesophilic, haloalkaliphilic spirochaete, strain ASpG1(T), was isolated from sediments of the alkaline, hypersaline Mono Lake in California, USA. Cells of the Gram-negative strain were motile and spirochaete-shaped with sizes of 0.2-0.22 x 8-18 microm. Growth of the strain was observed between 10 and 44 degrees C (optimum 37 degrees C), in 2-12% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3% NaCl) and between pH 8 and 10.5 (optimum pH 9.5). The novel strain was strictly alkaliphilic, required high concentrations of carbonates in the medium and was capable of utilizing D-glucose, fructose, maltose, sucrose, starch and D-mannitol. End products of glucose fermentation were H2, acetate, ethanol and formate. Strain ASpG(T) was resistant to kanamycin and rifampicin, but sensitive to gentamicin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol. The G + C content of its DNA was 58.5 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization analysis of strain ASpG1(T) with its most closely related species, Spirochaeta alkalica Z-7491(T), revealed a hybridization value of only 48.7%. On the basis of its physiological and molecular properties, strain ASpG1(T) appears to represent a novel species of the genus Spirochaeta, for which the name Spirochaeta americana is proposed (type strain ASpG1(T) =ATCC BAA-392(T) = DSM 14872(T)).

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1997

Spirochaeta smaragdinae sp. nov., a new mesophilic strictly anaerobic spirochete from an oil field.

An obligately anaerobic spirochete designated strain SEBR 4228T (T = type strain) was isolated from an oil field of Congo, Central Africa. The strain grew optimally with a sodium chloride concentration of 5% (sodium chloride concentration) growth range 1.0-10%) at 37 degrees C (growth temperature range 20-40 degrees C) and pH of 7.0-7.2 (pH growth range pH 5.5-8.0). Strain SEBR 4228T grew on carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, ribose, D-xylose, galactose, mannitol and mannose), glycerol, fumarate, peptides and yeast extract. Yeast extract was required for growth and could not be replaced by vitamins. It reduced thiosulfate and sulfur, to H2S. Glucose was oxidised to lactate, acetate, CO2 and H2S in the presence of thiosulfate but in its absence lactate, ethanol, CO2 and H2 were produced. Fumarate was fermented to acetate and succinate. The G + C content of strain SEBR 4228T was 50%. Strain SEBR 4228T was spiral shaped measuring 5-30 by 0.3-0.5 micron and was motile with a corkscrew-like motion. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of periplasmic flagella in a 1-2-1 arrangement. Strain SEBR 4228T possessed features typical of the members of the genus Spirochaeta. 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed that it was closely related to Spirochaeta bajacaliforniensis (similarity 98.6%). The lack of DNA homology with S. bajacaliforniensis (38%), together with other phenotypic differences, indicated that strain SEBR 4228T is a new species, which we have designated Spirochaeta smaragdinae. The type strain is SEBR 4228T (= DSM 11293).

DNA, Ribosomal↗
PubMed1974

Lipids of the Spirochaetales: comparison of the lipids of several members of the genera Spirochaeta, Treponema, and Leptospira.

The lipid compositions of 17 spirochetes belonging to the genera Spirochaeta and Treponema were investigated and compared with data previously derived from 11 strains of Leptospira. The lipid compositions and lipid metabolism of any of these genera is sufficiently different to be characteristic of that genus and to differentiate it from the other two genera. Members of the genus Leptospira are characterized by their ability to beta-oxidize long chain fatty acids as their major carbon and energy source. With few exceptions, they are incapable of synthesizing fatty acids de novo. The major phospholipid found was phosphatidyl ethanolamine. No glycolipid or phosphatidyl choline was found in these organisms. Members of the genus Treponema studied were incapable of beta-oxidation as well as de novo synthesis of fatty acids. Phosphatidyl choline is the major phospholipid of this genus. The glycolipid, monogalactosyl diglyceride, is a major component of the Treponema. Members of the Spirochaeta did synthesize fatty acids de novo. Although these spirochetes contain a monoglycosyl diglyceride, the hexose content of the glycolipid varied from species to species. Neither phosphatidyl ethanolamine nor phosphatidyl choline was found in the Spirochaeta.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1999

Phosphofructokinase activities within the order spirochaetales and the characterisation of the pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase from spirochaeta thermophila

The subtype of phosphofructokinase activity, either ATP-, ADP- or pyrophosphate-dependent, present in members of three genera from the Spirochaetales was investigated. The individual species/strains examined included Spirochaeta alkalica, S. asiatica, S. halophila, S. isovalerica, S. litoralis, S. zuelzerae, S. thermophila, two thermophilic spirochetes, Treponema bryantii, T. denticola, paragraph signT. pectinovorum, Leptospira biflexa and L. interrogans. All of the Spirochaeta strains, regardless of their phenotype, possessed primarily a pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase. In contrast, T. bryantii, T. denticola and L. biflexa had predominantly an ATP-dependent activity, whereas no activity was detected in T. pectinovorum or paragraph signL. interrogans. The results suggest that pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase activity may be a reliable phenotypic marker for the genus Spirochaeta and that there are potentially interesting differences in how the catabolism of saccharides is controlled among members of genera within the Spirochaetales. The pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase from S. thermophila strain RI 19.B1 was purified (303-fold) to homogeneity and biochemically characterised. The S. thermophila enzyme displayed hyperbolic kinetics with respect to both the forward and reverse cosubstrates and was not significantly affected by traditional activators or inhibitors of phosphofructokinase. The biochemical characterisation represents the first spirochete phosphofructokinase to be described.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Search for eukaryotic motility proteins in spirochetes: immunological detection of a tektin-like protein in Spirochaeta halophila.

The serial endosymbiotic theory (SET) for the spirochete origin of undulipodia (cilia and eukaryotic flagella) predicts that a greater number of axonemal proteins will show homology to spirochete than to other bacterial proteins. To continue testing, the SET proteins associated with eukaryotic motility (tektin, centrin and calmodulin) were sought in Spirochaeta halophila. Western blot immunological detection techniques (for tektin and centrin) and two-dimensional gel analysis (for calmodulin) were used. Tektins are filamentous proteins extending the length of the axoneme in sperm tails and other undulipodia. Whole cell extracts of S. halophila were probed with antibodies made against three sea urchin (Lytechinus pictus) sperm axonemal tektins (tektins A, B, and C). In the spirochetes, one tektin-like protein was detected as a band on Western blots (a C tektin.) An antibody made against Lytechinus pictus sperm tail axonemes, affinity-purified against the C tektin of another sea urchin, Stronglyocentrotus purpuratus, bound to a 30 kDa protein from Spirochaeta halophila. The C tektin epitope was not detected in Escherichia coli. Both the poly- and monoclonal anti-centrin antibodies cross-reacted with multiple proteins in the control alga (Tetraselmis striata) and in the putatively negative control bacterium E. coli. No cross reaction was seen between any anti-centrin antibody and S. halophila. Neither did a two-dimensional gel analysis reveal the presence of calmodulin in these spirochetes or in the two other prokaryotes tested (Spiroplasma citri, Acholeplasma laidlawii). Although neither centrin nor calmodulin were detected, a 30 kDa tektin-like protein apparently is present in these spirochetes.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed1983

[Treponema pallidum or Spirochaeta pallida?].

First Schaudinn and Hoffmann named the causative organism of syphilis Spirochaeta pallida. Short time later Schaudinn proposed the name Treponema. He mentioned it in a letter of October 14, 1905 to Hoffmann. He supposed that this germ may be a flagellate. This was not correct. The electron-microscopic investigations revealed that this idea did not concur. Therefore it is better to call them Spirochaeta pallida and not Treponema pallidum any more.

Germany↗
PubMed1975

Morphology and physiology of Spirochaeta aurantia strains isolated from aquatic habitats.

1. Seven strains of Spirochaeta aurantia were isolated from pond and swamp water by means of a selective technique which utilized the ability of these organisms to move through bacterial filters and to diffuse through agar media. Although most of the isolations were accomplished when enrichment media low in carbohydrates were used, all seven strains were found to be exclusively saccharolytic. 2. The isolates could be divided into two groups on the basis of cell morphology: a loosely coiled group, and a tightly coiled group with markedly smaller wave length and wave apmlitude. Spirochetes of the latter group possessed a slightly lower GC content in their DNA. The isolates were facultative anaerobes, synthesized carotenoid pigments which conferred an orange color to aerobic colonies, and utilized a variety of carbohydrates--but not amino acids--as energy sources. Exogenous thiamine was required by six isolates tested, riboflavin by four, and biotin by one. The major products of glucose fermentation were acetate, ethanol, CO2 and H2. Growth of the isolates was inhibited by a variety of antibiotics. Determinations of GC contents of DNA showed that strains of S. aurantia are phylogenetically distant from spirochetes classified in the genera Treponema and Leptospira. 3. S. aurantia populations inoculated in the center of agar medium plates migrated in the form of growth rings toward the periphery of the plates. The rate of migration of glucose-utilizing rings was greatest at low glucose concentrations (e.g., 0.02 g/100 ml). It was concluded that migration of cells present in these rings was mainly due to a chemotactic response to glucose which served both as the attractant and the substrate. Chemotaxis of S. aurantia toward glucose may be used as a selective factor in isolating this bacterium from natural environments. 4. The subspecific epithet stricta is proposed to recognize, taxonomically, the tightly coiled strains of S. aurantia.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1985

Spirochaeta bajacaliforniensis sp. n. from a microbial mat community at Laguna Figueroa, Baja California Norte, Mexico.

A new anaerobic spirochete was isolated from anaerobic muds beneath the laminated sediment in the evaporite flat at Laguna Figueroa, Baja California Norte, Mexico. The organism is a member of the stratified microbial community involved in the deposition of the laminated sediments in the lagoon. The size of the spirochete is 0.3 by 30 micrometers, with a wave amplitude of 0.5 micrometer and a wavelength of 1.25 micrometers. The periplasmic flagella have a 1-2-1 arrangement. The outer membrane of the modified Gram-negative cell wall (the sheath) is irregularly crenulated and has a sillon. The growth medium contained yeast extract, trypticase, cellobiose, sodium thioglycolate and at least 20% natural seawater. Chemically defined artificial seawater media did not support growth. Optimal growth occurred with a seawater concentration of 80% at 36 degrees C and a pH of 7.5. Glucose was fermented to acetate, ethanol, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The guanine + cytosine content of the DNA was 50 mol %. The spirochete body reacts positively to antibodies raised against eukaryotic brain tubulin protein. On the basis of its free-living anaerobic habitat, its unique morphological and physiological characteristics and G+C ratio, it is proposed that this isolated be considered a new species and names Spirochaeta bajacaliforniensis.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1976

Spirochaeta halophila sp. n., a facultative anaerobe from a high-salinity pond.

A facultatively anaerobic spirochete isolated from a high-salinity pond grew optimally when 0.75 M NaCl, 0.2 M MgSO4, and 0.01 M CaCl2 were present in media containing yeast extract, peptone, and a carbohydrate. The organism failed to grow when any one of these three salts was omitted from the medium. Aerobically-grown colonies of the spirochete were red, whereas anaerobically-grown colonies showed no pigmentation. Non-pigmented mutants of the spirochete were isolated. The spirochete used carbohydrates, but not amino acids, as energy sources. Glucose was fermented to CO2, H2, ethanol, acetate, and a small amount of lactate. Determinations of radioactivity in products formed from glucose-1-14C and enzymatic assays indicated that glucose was dissimilated to pyruvate mainly via the Embden-Meyerhof pathway. Pyruvate was metabolized through a clostridial-type clastic reaction. Cells growing aerobically performed an incomplete oxidation of glucose mainly to CO2 and acetate. Comparison of aerobic and anaerobic growth yields indicated that oxidative phosphorylation occurred in cells growing aerobically. The guanine + cytosine content of the DNA of the spirochete was 62 moles %. It is proposed that the spirochete described herein be considered a new species and that it be named Spirochaeta halophila.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed2001

Sequencing, high-level expression and phylogeny of the pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase from the thermophilic spirochete Spirochaeta thermophila.

The full-length gene encoding a 554-amino-acid, active pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase from Spirochaeta thermophila was cloned and sequenced using a combination of degenerate and inverse PCR, and the enzyme expressed to a high level in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme, with a calculated molecular mass of 61 kDa, was purified to near homogeneity and found to be similar to the purified native enzyme for most properties examined. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a close relationship between the thermophilic S. thermophila phosphofructokinase and the large beta-subunits of the phosphofructokinases from Borrelia burgdorferi and Treponema pallidum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

The 'tubulin-like' S1 protein of Spirochaeta is a member of the hsp65 stress protein family.

A 65-kDa protein (called S1) from Spirochaeta bajacaliforniensis was identified as 'tubulin-like' because it cross-reacted with at least four different antisera raised against tubulin and was isolated, with a co-polymerizing 45-kDa protein, by warm-cold cycling procedures used to purify tubulin from mammalian brain. Furthermore, at least three genera of non-cultivable symbiotic spirochetes (Pillotina, Diplocalyx, and Hollandina) that contain conspicuous 24-nm cytoplasmic tubules displayed a strong fluorescence in situ when treated with polyclonal antisera raised against tubulin. Here we summarize results that lead to the conclusion that this 65-kDa protein has no homology to tubulin. S1 is an hsp65 stress protein homologue. Hsp65 is a highly immunogenic family of hsp60 proteins which includes the 65-kDa antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (an active component of Freund's complete adjuvant), Borrelia, Treponema, Chlamydia, Legionella, and Salmonella. The hsp60s, also known as chaperonins, include E. coli GroEL, mitochondrial and chloroplast chaperonins, the pea aphid 'symbionin' and many other proteins involved in protein folding and the stress response.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

[Serum antibodies against Ixodes ricinus Spirochaeta in acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (Herxheimer)].

Using indirect immunofluorescence, IgG antibodies against the recently detected Ixodes-ricinus-spirochaeta, which causes erythema chronicum migrans could be demonstrated in all 21 persons with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. Titers were from 1 : 64 to 1 : 1024, specific IgM antibodies were demonstrable in only 5 patients in a titer of 1 : 64. Even after treatment with penicillin high IgG antibody titers of up to 1 : 1024 were found. Fourfold decreases could be found only once for each IgG and IgM antibodies.l Serology indicates that acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans as well as erythema chronicum migrans is caused by the Ixodes-ricinus-spirocheta.

Acrodermatitis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunization of rabbits with Spirochaeta aurantia does not induce resistance to Treponema pallidum.

Rabbits were immunized with viable Spirochaeta aurantia, a free-living, facultative anaerobic spirochete that is similar in some biochemical characteristics to Treponema pallidum, a parasitic, microaerophilic spirochete. Single and multiple immunizations with living S. aurantia, with or without Freund's incomplete adjuvant, Freund's complete adjuvant, or heat-killed T. pallidum, were carried out over a four-month period. Living S. aurantia was neither toxic nor virulent for rabbits. Immunized rabbits produced a high level of agglutinating antibody to S. aurantia but no antibody to T. pallidum, as determined by the T. pallidum hemagglutination test. Immunized rabbits were challenged with multiple intradermal inoculations of 100 viable T. pallidum (Nichols strain) and compared to unimmunized rabbits similarly infected. Immunization with S. aurantia did not protect against T. pallidum infection. Thus S. aurantia appears not to be suitable as a potential vaccine against infection with T. pallidum.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Analysis of the Spirochaeta aurantia flaA gene and transcript.

The flaA gene, which codes for the Spirochaeta aurantia flagellar filament outer layer polypeptide, FlaA, was cloned, sequenced and analysed. The gene appears to be transcribed into a monocistronic mRNA from a sigma 70-like promoter. The translational start is 31 base pairs after the start of the transcript, the open reading frame is 1011 base pairs, and a rho-independent-like transcription terminator sequence begins about 19 base pairs after the translational stop codon. The deduced amino acid sequence of the S. aurantia FlaA showed 40% identity with the Treponema pallidum FlaA, but these polypeptides did not show a significant similarity to other polypeptides for which sequence information was available.

Amino Acid Sequence↗