Bacteria
Micrococcus luteus
Strain/Type
Micrococcus luteus (Schroeter 1872) Cohn 1872 emend. Wieser et al. 2002
Characteristics e.g. sensitizing or toxic effect, resistance to antibiotics
Pathogenicity:
Facultative human-pathogenic (it does not necessarily cause diseases in humans).
Facultative animal-pathogenic (it does not necessarily cause diseases in animals).
Human infections with M. luteus are relatively rare. A variety of infections such as sepsis, pneumonia and endocarditis have been reported, but to date exclusively in immunocompromised patients. The pathogenesis of such cases is influenced by a variety of bacterial and host-dependent factors. Thus far, only a small number of potential virulence or pathogenicity factors have been described, some of which are exoenzymes. Their significance in the broader context of the process of infection remains unclear.
Toxigenicity/Toxin formation:
They have been reported to produce cadaverine via marked lysine decarboxylase activity.
Resistances:
The organism has been reported to be resistant to erythromycin and other antibiotics.
Host tropism
Skin and mucous membranes of humans and many mammals.
Micrococcus luteus can proliferate under aerobic and conditions and is found in humans as part of their normal bacterial flora, primarily on the skin, but also in the mouth. Infections are frequently endogenous. Although extremely rare, reports of infections in humans have occurred, mainly in immunocompromised patients, leading to abscesses, endocarditis, sepsis and pneumonia.
Route of Transmission
Transmission takes place percutaneously (through the skin).
Micrococcus luteus is found in humans as part of their normal bacterial flora, primarily on the skin but also in the mouth. Infections are, hence, frequently endogenous. Transmission from animals is also a possibility, as is contaminated medical equipment.
Transmission occurs via contact with people who possess M. luteus as part of their normal flora or via contaminated medical equipment and contaminated blood supplies.
Zoonosis (transmission between animals and humans): Yes
Transmission from animals to humans is possible. In spite of this, infection with M. luteus is not considered a zoonosis.
Approved as biological safety measure if taken as recipient organism for genetic engineering?
Genetically modified (GenTSV)
Risk group (BioStoffV)
1
Risk assessment
According to TRBA466 and the DSMZ (https://www.dsmz.de/collection/catalogue/details/culture/DSM-1790)
Operation instructions (mandatory for RG2 and higher)
https://biostoffe.dguv.de/data?name=824013&lang=en
Occupational health care (according to ArbMedVV)
In the case of activities with the biological agent no health care is required. An indication on restrictions for immunosuppressed workers should be made.
Storage location of aliquots in the Biolab (just click Bearbeiten in the right corner of the header to add or change information in the table and use the menue in the left header to e.g. add a row)
| source | bacterial strain | freezing date | amount of bacteria per vial | host cells, stock was produced on | no. of aliquots | belongs to (full name) | rack/box in N2 tank or -80°° freezer and location (room, address) | comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSMZ | Chaitanya Kumar Thota | ? | ||||||
