Legionella These Gram-negative aerobic bacteriailli can live in both freshwater and man-made environments.
Legionella bononiensisMagnification 20,000x Image credit: Girolamini The authors and others., doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005512.
LegionellaThe only member of the Legionellaceae family, genus X, was named after an 1976 outbreak of what was then a mystery disease that claimed over 200 lives. This outbreak was discovered by attendees to the American Legion convention, an organization of U.S. veterans.
There are currently 63 species Legionella has been identified, and 24 are related to human infections. They have been implicated in Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever.
Inhaling contaminated aerosols or aspirating drinking water can cause infection.
New species LegionellaNamed Legionella bononiensisThe cold and hot water samples were taken from an Italian hotel located in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
According to Dr. Sandra Cristino of the University of Bologna, “During the planned surveillance activities at a hotel facility the laboratory staff isolated unusual colonies that had peculiar morphological or phenotypical characteristics.”
We used all the standard methods recommended by scientific literature and reference standards to analyze the samples.
However, these results were inconsistent and didn’t allow for the identification of bacteria species-level.
Dr. Cristino and colleagues used genetic sequencing to get more specific answers. This is the standard test that can be used to identify microorganisms in clinical or environmental samples.
The sequence activity was further explored by the researchers who also analyzed other sequencing activities. Legionella-specific genes.
The team also performed phenotyping and whole-genome sequencing, as well as mass spectroscopy research.
The obtained results confirmed the culture observation: We were dealing with an entirely new species that was phylogenetically distant. Legionella quateirensis“This is a new scientific discovery that has not been proven in any published literature,” Dr. Cristino stated.
We then started the formal recognition process by depositing the samples in culture collections at two cultures from two countries. This was required by The Leading Journal that Allows the Description of New Prokaryotes.
It is vital to keep studying the infectivity and pathogenicity of this newly-discovered strain as well as patterns of antibiotic resistance in order to prevent public health problems.
“In addition to this, the laboratory is currently working on two additional isolates which are two new species within the genus. Legionella.”
These findings of the team were published by International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.
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Luna Girolamini The authors and others. 2022. Legionella bononiensis sp. nov., taken from northern Italy’s hotel water distribution network. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 72 (9); doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005512