title: Phylogenetic placement and characterization of a new alpha-2 proteobacterium isolated from a patient with sepsis.
abstract: An alpha-2 proteobacterium, previously unknown as determined by its phylogenetic characteristics and the DNA sequence of its 16S rRNA gene, was isolated from a patient who presented an unusual clinical picture, including high remitting fever and multiorgan involvement. The bacterium was detected in multiple plasma samples, obtained during the acute phase of the disease, after cocultivation in cell culture media. Electron microscopy of the organism showed a three-layer laminar cell wall and electron-dense granules within the cytoplasm, as well as a polar flagellum. By means of PCR followed by sequencing of amplified 16S ribosomal DNA fragments, the bacterium was found to differ from all species for which ribosomal sequence information is available. It is here provisionally named the Rasbo bacterium. At a subsequent relapse, the bacterium was identified in pericardial fluid both by PCR/sequencing and by direct electron microscopy. At a second relapse, it was again cultured from plasma. After in vitro adaptation to solid media, the MICs of various antibiotics could be determined. A transient immunoglobulin M (IgM) but no IgG response to the bacterium was found by an indirect immunofluorescence test, as well as by an immobilization test during the acute phase of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wesslén
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Påhlson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hjelm
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pettersson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nikkilä
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Allard
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uhlén
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morein
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Friman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S