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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Corynebacterium conjunctivae: A New Corynebacterium Species ...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(14); 1827; doi: 10.3390/ani12141827

Corynebacterium conjunctivae: A New Corynebacterium Species Isolated from the Ocular Surface of Healthy Horses.

Abstract: Twenty-two unidentified Gram-positive, rod-shaped organisms were recovered from the conjunctival surface of apparently healthy horses and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic analysis. Based on cellular morphology and biochemical criteria, the isolates were tentatively assigned to the genus , although they did not match any recognized species. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that all of the isolates were phylogenetically members of the genus The isolates shared 99.4 to 100% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity among the strains and 96.5% similarity with 2385/12, which was the closest phylogenetically related species. The DNA G+C content was 58.4 mol%. The major fatty acids were C, C, C and C , while the predominant mycolic acids consisted of C, C and C. The isolates were distinguished from related species by a number of phenotypic properties. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown isolates from horses be classified in the genus as sp. nov. The type strain of is ICM19-01138 (DSM 109759 = CCUG 73728).
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Publication Date: 2022-07-18 PubMed ID: 35883374PubMed Central: PMC9312174DOI: 10.3390/ani12141827Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article is about the discovery of a new bacterium species named Corynebacterium conjunctivae, isolated from the eye surface of healthy horses.

Objective of the Study

The primary objective of this research was to understand and categorize a group of unidentified bacteria that were found on the conjunctival surface (eye surface) of healthy horses.

Methodology

  • The bacteria were initially identified as Gram-positive; a characteristic common to certain types of bacteria.
  • Twenty-two of these unidentified organisms were subjected to a ‘polyphasic taxonomic analysis’. This is an in-depth way of classifying organisms based on multiple areas of research which includes; studying the organism’s morphology (structure), biochemical characteristics (chemistry and function) as well as their genetic make up.
  • Through these analyses, the bacteria were preliminarily assigned to the Corynebacterium genus, a group of bacteria that are generally rod-shaped. However, the strain did not match any recognized species within the genus.

DNA Sequencing and Composition

  • Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies were performed. This is a technique used to sequence the genes coding for small subunit ribosomal RNA, a component of the ribosome. The technique proved that the isolates were indeed members of the Corynebacterium genus.
  • The isolates shared 99.4% to 100% gene sequence similarity among each other, indicating they were closely related or perhaps belonging to the same species.
  • They also exhibited 96.5% similarity with Corynebacterium 2385/12, which was the closest phylogenetically related species, indicating they were part of the same genus, but not the same species.
  • The DNA G+C content was 58.4 mol%. This is a measure of the guanine and cytosine content in the DNA, and it helps provide insight into the genomic makeup and evolutionary history of an organism.

Characterization of the Bacteria

  • The primary fatty acids identified in the bacteria were C, C, C and C. Fatty acids are long chains of hydrocarbons that make up the cell wall of bacteria, providing structural stability and protection.
  • The main mycolic acids consisted of C, C and C. Mycolic acids are unique, longer fatty acids found in certain types of bacteria, including the Corynebacterium genus.
  • These isolates were distinguished from other Corynebacterium species through some unique phenotypic properties. Phenotypes are the observed traits and characteristics of an organism.

Conclusion

  • Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, the researchers proposed that the unknown bacteria are a new species within the Corynebacterium genus.
  • The new species was named Corynebacterium conjunctivae, reflecting its source – the conjunctival surface of horses.
  • The type strain, representing this species, was labelled as ICM19-01138.

Cite This Article

APA
Fernández-Garayzábal JF, LaFrentz S, Casamayor A, Abarca E, Mohammed HH, Cuming RS, Arias CR, Domínguez L, Vela AI. (2022). Corynebacterium conjunctivae: A New Corynebacterium Species Isolated from the Ocular Surface of Healthy Horses. Animals (Basel), 12(14), 1827. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12141827

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 14
PII: 1827

Researcher Affiliations

Fernández-Garayzábal, José F
  • Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
  • Department of Animal Health, Veterinary School, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
LaFrentz, Stacey
  • Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36894, USA.
Casamayor, Almudena
  • Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Abarca, Eva
  • Servei d'Oftalmologia, ARS Veterinaria, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
Mohammed, Haitham H
  • Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt.
Cuming, Rosemary S
  • Scone Equine Hospital, Scone, NSW 2337, Australia.
Arias, Cova R
  • School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36894, USA.
Domínguez, Lucas
  • Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
  • Department of Animal Health, Veterinary School, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Vela, Ana I
  • Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
  • Department of Animal Health, Veterinary School, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain.

Grant Funding

  • RTI2018-098530-B-I00 / Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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