| Description | Brachyspira aalborgi is a Gram-negative bacterium classified within the phylum Spirochaetes. Characterized by its spirilla shape, this microbe typically arranges itself into filaments, showcasing a unique structural form that aids in its motility. B. aalborgi is nonsporulating, meaning it does not produce spores as a survival mechanism under adverse conditions. This organism is mesophilic, thriving in moderate temperature ranges, with an optimal growth temperature around 37°C, aligning with the typical body temperature of many warm-blooded hosts. As a chemoheterotroph, B. aalborgi relies on organic compounds for its energy needs, making it well-suited to a variety of habitats where such nutrients are available. This microbe demonstrates microaerophilic characteristics, requiring low levels of oxygen for growth, which influences its ecological niches and interactions within host organisms, particularly in the gastrointestinal tracts of mammals. B. aalborgi has been implicated in various gastrointestinal conditions, notably in association with swine dysentery, a disease affecting pigs. Its presence indicates a complex relationship within the gut microbiome, where it may play roles both as a pathogen and as a commensal organism, dependent on the host’s overall health. This duality highlights an important ecological insight: the balance between pathogenic and commensal bacteria is often delicate, suggesting that shifts in the gut microbiome composition can have significant impacts on health and disease outcomes in animal populations. |
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