| Description: |
Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-positive, nonmotile, obligate aerobic coccus that is found in soil, water, sewage and healthcare settings. It can utilize a variety of carbon sources and is able to grow in a range of temperature and pH conditions. It has emerged as an important and problematic human pathogen as it is the causative agent of several infections including pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia and urinary tract infections. Recently, it has been shown to be responsible for an outbreak of bacteremia in more than 240 American troops in Iraq. In 2004, A. baumannii was isolated from human body lice that may constitute a transmission means for the bacterium.
Acinetobacter baumannii (strain ATCC 17978 / NCDC KC 755) harbors one chromosome and two plasmids. Sixteen putative alien islands (pAs) are predicted to be involved in virulence. The largest pA contains several transposons and integrases and also contains 8 genes homologous to the Legionella/Coxiella Type IV virulence/secretion apparatus. Seven different pAs contain genes coding for drug-resistance proteins. Some pAs contain genes involved in heavy metal resistance, iron uptake, autoinducer processing, cell wall biogenesis. Twelve pAs contains genes involved in different aspects of metabolism. Four pAs were difficult to characterize because they contain hypothetical genes and mobile elements. |
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