| { |
| "schema_version": "1.0", |
| "level": "genus", |
| "genus": "Exiguobacterium", |
|
|
| "overview": { |
| "short": "Exiguobacterium species are Gram-positive, non-spore-forming rods or short rods, notable for their ability to survive across wide temperature and environmental extremes.", |
| "clinical_context": "Primarily environmental organisms; rarely isolated from clinical specimens, usually as contaminants or opportunistic isolates." |
| }, |
|
|
| "expected_fields": { |
| "Gram Stain": "Positive", |
| "Shape": "Short Rods", |
| "Motility": "Variable", |
| "Capsule": "Unknown", |
| "Spore Formation": "Negative", |
| "Haemolysis": "Negative", |
| "Haemolysis Type": "None", |
| "Media Grown On": [ |
| "Blood Agar", |
| "Nutrient Agar" |
| ], |
| "Colony Morphology": [ |
| "Small", |
| "Smooth", |
| "Cream" |
| ], |
| "Oxygen Requirement": "Facultative Anaerobe", |
| "Growth Temperature": "-2//50", |
| "Catalase": "Positive", |
| "Oxidase": "Variable", |
| "Indole": "Negative", |
| "Urease": "Negative", |
| "Citrate": "Negative", |
| "Methyl Red": "Variable", |
| "VP": "Variable", |
| "H2S": "Negative", |
| "DNase": "Negative", |
| "ONPG": "Variable", |
| "Coagulase": "Negative", |
| "Gelatin Hydrolysis": "Variable", |
| "Esculin Hydrolysis": "Variable", |
| "Nitrate Reduction": "Variable", |
| "NaCl Tolerant (>=6%)": "Positive", |
| "Lipase Test": "Negative", |
| "Lysine Decarboxylase": "Negative", |
| "Ornithine Decarboxylase": "Negative", |
| "Ornitihine Decarboxylase": "Negative", |
| "Arginine dihydrolase": "Negative", |
| "Glucose Fermentation": "Positive", |
| "Lactose Fermentation": "Variable", |
| "Sucrose Fermentation": "Variable", |
| "Maltose Fermentation": "Positive", |
| "Mannitol Fermentation": "Variable", |
| "Sorbitol Fermentation": "Negative", |
| "Xylose Fermentation": "Variable", |
| "Rhamnose Fermentation": "Negative", |
| "Arabinose Fermentation": "Variable", |
| "Raffinose Fermentation": "Negative", |
| "Trehalose Fermentation": "Positive", |
| "Inositol Fermentation": "Negative", |
| "Gas Production": "Negative", |
| "TSI Pattern": "Unknown", |
| "Colony Pattern": "Unknown", |
| "Pigment": "None", |
| "Motility Type": "Variable" |
| }, |
|
|
| "field_notes": { |
| "Growth Temperature": "Members exhibit extreme psychrotolerance and thermotolerance depending on species.", |
| "Motility": "Some species are motile via peritrichous flagella; others are non-motile.", |
| "Oxidase": "Results may vary and are not genus-defining." |
| }, |
|
|
| "key_differentiators": [ |
| { |
| "field": "Growth Temperature", |
| "expected": "-2//50", |
| "distinguishes_from": ["Bacillus", "Paenibacillus"], |
| "notes": "Broad temperature tolerance without spore formation is characteristic." |
| }, |
| { |
| "field": "Spore Formation", |
| "expected": "Negative", |
| "distinguishes_from": ["Bacillus"], |
| "notes": "Lack of endospores helps separate Exiguobacterium from spore-forming Gram-positive rods." |
| }, |
| { |
| "field": "NaCl Tolerant (>=6%)", |
| "expected": "Positive", |
| "distinguishes_from": ["Listeria"], |
| "notes": "Salt tolerance supports Exiguobacterium identification." |
| } |
| ], |
|
|
| "common_confusions": [ |
| { |
| "genus": "Bacillus", |
| "reason": "Shared Gram-positive rod morphology and catalase positivity." |
| }, |
| { |
| "genus": "Listeria", |
| "reason": "Overlap in motility and growth on blood agar." |
| } |
| ], |
|
|
| "when_to_question_identification": [ |
| "Spore formation argues against Exiguobacterium.", |
| "Strict anaerobic growth excludes Exiguobacterium.", |
| "Catalase negativity is inconsistent with the genus." |
| ], |
|
|
| "recommended_next_tests": [ |
| { |
| "test": "Motility testing", |
| "reason": "Helps refine species-level differentiation.", |
| "api_kit": "API Coryne" |
| }, |
| { |
| "test": "Carbohydrate fermentation profiling", |
| "reason": "Useful for separating closely related species.", |
| "api_kit": "API 50 CH" |
| }, |
| { |
| "test": "MALDI-TOF MS", |
| "reason": "Reliable confirmation due to biochemical variability.", |
| "api_kit": "Not applicable" |
| } |
| ], |
|
|
| "supported_species": [ |
| "acetylicum", |
| "antarcticum" |
| ] |
| } |
