Pre_GI: SWBIT SVG BLASTN

Query: NC_000117:845141 Chlamydia trachomatis D/UW-3/CX, complete genome

Lineage: Chlamydia trachomatis; Chlamydia; Chlamydiaceae; Chlamydiales; Chlamydiae; Bacteria

General Information: Isolated from the cervix of an asymptomatic female. Opportunistic pathogen. Bacteria belonging to the Chlamydiales group are obligate intracellular parasites of eukaryotic cells. They are found within vertebrates, invertebrate cells, and amoebae hosts. Chlamydiae are one of the commonest causes of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and if left untreated may cause infertility in women. They are transmitted by direct contact or aerosols, and can cause various diseases, while also being able to coexist with the host in an apparently asymptomatic state. This species causes infection that leads to blindness and sexually transmitted diseases in humans. There are 15 serovariants that preferentially cause disease in either the eye or the urogenital tract. The trachoma (infection of the mucous membrane of the eyelids) biovars are noninvasive and can cause blinding trachoma (variants A, B, Ba, and C), or sexually transmitted diseases (variants, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K). The lymphogranuloma venereum biovars (variants L1, L2, and L3) can cross the epithelial cells of mucous membranes and then travel through the lymphatic system where they multiply within mononuclear phagocytes found within the lymph nodes. This is a trachoma biovar, serovar D strain.

Subject: NC_005956:1402500 Bartonella henselae str. Houston-1, complete genome

Lineage: Bartonella henselae; Bartonella; Bartonellaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria

General Information: Bartonella henselae str. Houston-1 (ATCC 49882) was isolated from human blood in Houston Texas. Causative agent of cat scratch fever. This group of alpha proteobacteria are unique among pathogens in that they cause angiogenic lesions. This organism was identified as the causative agent of cat scratch fever, a disease found commonly in children or in immunocompromised adults. The proliferation of the vascular endothelium (bacillary angiomatosis) is characterisitic of Bartonella infection and results in multiplication of the bacterium's host cells. Infected macrophages are stimulated to release vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin 1 beta, both of which promote angiogenesis. Endothelial cells are also stimulated to grow and divide by direct contact with bacterial cells. In addition, programmed cell death (apoptosis) of endothelial cells is inhibited, combatting a common mechanism eukaryotic cells use to deal with bacterial infection. Other pathogenicity factors include pili and outer membrane adhesins for attachment to host cells.