| Oxalobacter paraformigenes | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Kingdom: | Pseudomonadati |
| Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
| Class: | Betaproteobacteria |
| Order: | Burkholderiales |
| Family: | Oxalobacteraceae |
| Genus: | Oxalobacter |
| Species: | O. paraformigenes |
| Binomial name | |
| Oxalobacter paraformigenes Chmiel et al, 2022 | |
| Type strain | |
| Oxalobacter paraformigenes HOxBLST | |
Oxalobacter paraformigenes is a Gram negative, non-spore-forming, oxalate-degrading anaerobic bacterium that was first isolated from human fecal samples. [1] O. paraformigenes may have a role in calcium oxalate kidney stone disease because of its unique ability to utilize oxalate as its primary carbon source. [1]
Oxalobacter paraformigenes was originally thought to be a subgroup of Oxalobacter formigenes. [1] Based on fatty acid profile, 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing, and DNA probes specific to the oxc (oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase) gene and frc (formyl-CoA transferase), O. paraformigenes strain HOxBLS was considered a group II strain. [2] [3] [4] [5] However, whole genome sequencing revealed that O. paraformigenes HOxBLS is a different species from O. formigenes and it was subsequently renamed. [6] The new species name paraformigenes uses the parent species formigenes and adds the Greek prefix para meaning "beside", [7] owing to that for the longest time O. paraformigenes was the only group II strain with a full genome sequence and it was used to make genetic comparisons between group I strains (now known as O. formigenes). [6]
The genome of O. paraformigenes was sequenced as part of the Human Microbiome Project and is approximately 2.5 Mb with a G+C content of approximately 52.7%. [8] [9] O. paraformigenes has a slightly higher G+C content than O. formigenes and slightly more gene sequences. [1] [6] [10]
O. paraformigenes grows in CO2-bicarbonate buffered oxalate media and is typically cultivated in anaerobic Hungate tubes or an anaerobic chamber. [1] Oxalate is supplemented at 20 – 100 mM (depending on desired cell density) and bacteria are grown at 37 °C for 24 – 48 hours. [1] [6] Anaerobic roll tubes, which are opaque agar filled Hungate tubes are used for bacterial isolation. [1]