Acetobacter
aceti is a
non-pathogenic, gram negative prokaryote
that converts ethanol to acetic acid with the presence of oxygen, making it
an obligate
aerobe. This microbe is commonly known to the public as producing
vinegar, wines, and beers. Acetobacter acetiis an aerobe and is
also motile via peritrichous flagella. Acetobacter aceti is
ubiquitous in nature and is everywhere there is fermentation occurring, growing
optimally in a seven percent ethanol solution at thirty degrees Celcius. Acetobacter
aceti is also known for its high tolerance of acidic conditions.
Genome
structure of Acetobacter aceti are 3,340,429 total base pairs
of DNA that make up the
genome of Acetobacter aceti. There are a total of 3122 genes
within Acetobacter aceti. 3050, or ninety seven percent of
the genes all code for
proteins, meaning that a large portion of Acetobacter aceti is
to produce protein.
Cell
and colony structure Acetobacter aceti are rod shaped cells and
can occur as individual cell pairs, chains, and small clusters units. The
flagellum of Acetobacter acetiis arranged peritrichously. The cells
can rotate their flagellum counter
clockwise and clockwise in direction.
Metabolism Acetobacter
aceti is an obligatory aerobic bacterium that can fix nitrogen
during its metabolic processes and is known for producing alcohol as a
byproduct of its metabolism. Acetobacter aceti uses sugars and
alcohols for its carbon source and turns them into their acetic acid. The
external electron source is nitrogen in the form of nitrite and nitrate and
reduces them into ammonia and hydrogen. The primary molecule Acetobacter
acetiproduces is acetic acid.
Acetobacter
aceti is widespread
in the environment; living in any environment where there is sugar present.
This environment includes flowers, fruits, soil, and water. Acetobacter
aceti contributes to the environment in many ways, metabolizing and
breaking down foods such as fruits so that other animals can feed off its
wastes and metabolize its byproducts. Acetobacter aceti has been
utilized for the specifics of metabolizing sugars and releases its byproducts
in the form of acetic acid, producing vinegar, a food product for
us as humans to consume.
Pathology
of Acetobacter aceti has yet to be reported as a pathogenic
microbe to humans or animals. Acetobacter aceti does not
produce any toxins, enzymes, or any viruses that harm any human or animal.
Since Acetobacter aceti is ubiquitous in nature and there is
contact of this bacterium on all animals on a frequent basis. Acetobacter
aceti is not a portion of normal flora of bacteria on human skin. The
only potential pathology it could present is if presented in mass quantities,
an allergic or
immune response could occur. Acetobacter aceti does
produce alcohols, meaning if consumed in large quantities, these alcohols could
affect the central nervous system, causing intoxication via alcohol, a
byproduct of Acetobacter aceti, although alcoholism or intoxication
is not due to the bacterium. Acetobacter aceti is known to
cause rotting and browning discoloration in fruits such as apples, pears, and
citrus products. Acetobacter aceti is known for causing pink disease in
pineapple, which is the turning of the pineapple pink due to the metabolism of
the pineapple by Acetobacter aceti along with the production
of its waste.
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