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Molecular microbiology2019; 112(1); 1-15; doi: 10.1111/mmi.14267

The pathogenic actinobacterium Rhodococcus equi: what’s in a name?

Abstract: Rhodococcus equi is the only recognized animal pathogenic species within an extended genus of metabolically versatile Actinobacteria of considerable biotechnological interest. Best known as a horse pathogen, R. equi is commonly isolated from other animal species, particularly pigs and ruminants, and causes severe opportunistic infections in people. As typical in the rhodococci, R. equi niche specialization is extrachromosomally determined, via a conjugative virulence plasmid that promotes intramacrophage survival. Progress in the molecular understanding of R. equi and its recent rise as a novel paradigm of multihost adaptation has been accompanied by an unusual nomenclatural instability, with a confusing succession of names: "Prescottia equi", "Prescotella equi", Corynebacterium hoagii and Rhodococcus hoagii. This article reviews current advances in the genomics, biology and virulence of this pathogenic actinobacterium with a unique mechanism of plasmid-transferable animal host tropism. It also discusses the taxonomic and nomenclatural issues around R. equi in the light of recent phylogenomic evidence that confirms its membership as a bona fide Rhodococcus.
© 2019 The Authors. Molecular Microbiology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2019-06-17 PubMed ID: 31099908PubMed Central: PMC6852188DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14267Google 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.

Rhodococcus equi is a harmful bacterium known to infect a variety of animals, especially horses, and can also cause severe infections in humans. This article reviews recent advancements in understanding this bacterium as well as discussions about its classification.

Overview of Rhodococcus equi

  • Rhodococcus equi is part of the genus of Actinobacteria. While it is the only recognized pathogenic species in this genus, it has biotechnological interest due to its metabolic versatility.
  • While it is most commonly known to infect horses, it can also be isolated from other species including pigs and ruminants. Its severe infections can also be opportunistic in humans.
  • The specialization of R. equi to its host environment is determined by a virulence plasmid – an extrachromosomal genetic element – which aids in its survival within host cells known as macrophages.

Advancements in R. equi Research

  • There has been significant progress made in the molecular understanding of R. equi, particularly its ability to adapt to various hosts.
  • The paper explores the unique mechanism of plasmid-transferable animal host adaptation it exhibits, leading to R. equi being used as a novel paradigm of multi-host adaptation.
  • Growth in genomics has enabled advances in our understanding of this pathogenic bacterium.

Nomenclatural Discussion

  • R. equi has seen significant nomenclatural changes, with names including “Prescottia equi”, “Prescotella equi”, Corynebacterium hoagii, and Rhodococcus hoagii being used in the past.
  • This instability in the naming of R. equi is unusual and can make understanding and discussing the bacterium more complex.
  • However, recent phylogenomic evidence confirms that R. equi is unquestionably a member of the Rhodococcus genus, helping to settle the nomenclature issues.

Cite This Article

APA
Vázquez-Boland JA, Meijer WG. (2019). The pathogenic actinobacterium Rhodococcus equi: what’s in a name? Mol Microbiol, 112(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.14267

Publication

Molecular microbiology
ISSN: 1365-2958
NlmUniqueID: 8712028
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 112
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-15

Researcher Affiliations

Vázquez-Boland, José A
  • Microbial Pathogenesis Group, Edinburgh Medical School (Biomedical Sciences - Infection Medicine), University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, Little France campus, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.
Meijer, Wim G
  • UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.

MeSH Terms

  • Actinomycetales Infections
  • Animals
  • Genomics
  • Horses
  • Phylogeny
  • Plasmids
  • Rhodococcus
  • Rhodococcus equi / genetics
  • Rhodococcus equi / metabolism
  • Rhodococcus equi / pathogenicity
  • Swine
  • Virulence

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