Rickettsia rickettsii str. Iowa

Rickettsia_rickettsii
Names Rickettsia rickettsii str. Iowa
Accession numbers NC_010263
Background Rickettsia rickettsii is the causative agent of the Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and is the prototype bacterium in the spotted fever group of rickettsiae. It is transmitted by hard ticks (Ixodidae). Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the most severe and most frequently reported rickettsial illness in the United States. It also occurs in Mexico and in Central and South America. The symptoms of the Rocky Mountain spotted fever may follow within one to fourteen days after the victim has been bitten. There is a high fever, with chills, muscle aches and a severe headache concentrated in the forehead area. Also, eyes may become red, muscles may feel weak and there may be body swelling. A rash also forms around the third to fifth day. RMSF affects about 800 people in the United States each year. Before anti-biotic treatment was available 20 to 30 percent of the cases were fatal. However, with the discovery of an antibiotic, the suffering and danger has decreased; it causes death in about 15 percent of its victims over age 70, and in only about two percent of infected victims under age 30. If an antibiotic is started rapidly, the mortality rate is ten percent.Rickettsia rickettsii (strain Iowa) is avirulent and defective in cell lysis. It does not induce fever in a guinea pig model of infection. A deletion truncates the rompA gene that codes for a major surface antigen. In addition R. rickettsii (strain Iowa) is defective in the processing of rOmpB, another major surface antigen. These factors most likely contribute to the avirulence of this strain. (HAMAP: RICRO)
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Bacteria
Phylum:Proteobacteria
Class:Alphaproteobacteria
Order:Rickettsiales
Family:Rickettsiaceae
Genus:Rickettsia
Species:rickettsii
Strain str. Iowa
Complete Yes
Sequencing centre (11-JAN-2011) Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and
(11-JUL-2007) Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and
(13-JAN-2011) National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
Sequencing quality Level 6: Finished
Sequencing depth NA
Sequencing method NA
Isolation site Patient with Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Isolation country NA
Number of replicons 1
Gram staining properties Negative
Shape Bacilli
Mobility No
Flagellar presence No
Number of membranes 2
Oxygen requirements Aerobic
Optimal temperature NA
Temperature range Mesophilic
Habitat HostAssociated
Biotic relationship Symbiotic
Host name Homo sapiens
Cell arrangement NA
Sporulation Nonsporulating
Metabolism NA
Energy source NA
Diseases Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Pathogenicity No