Query: NC_000909:201000 Methanocaldococcus jannaschii DSM 2661, complete genome
Lineage: Methanocaldococcus jannaschii; Methanocaldococcus; Methanocaldococcaceae; Methanococcales; Euryarchaeota; Archaea
General Information: Methane-producing thermophilic archeon. Isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent in the east Pacific Rise in 1982. This organism is an obligately anaerobic methane-producing archeon and was the first representative of the archaeal domain to be completely sequenced. The cells require a pH of 5.2-7 with 1.0-5.0% NaCl, optimal conditions are pH 6.0 and 3% NaCl. Fixes carbon dioxide to methane as its primary energy-producing biochemical pathway.
Subject: NC_008593:841291 Clostridium novyi NT, complete genome
Lineage: Clostridium novyi; Clostridium; Clostridiaceae; Clostridiales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: This strain (NT) was created so that it lacks the lethal toxin. Injection of spores of this organism into mice harboring tumors resulted in an increased immune response and destruction of the tumor tissue in a method known as COBALT (combination bacteriolytic therapy) when the spores along with chemotherapeutic agents or radiation are co-administered. The anaerobic bacteria preferentially target hypoxic cancer tissue and stimulate immune responses to that tissue. This genus comprises about 150 metabolically diverse species of anaerobes that are ubiquitous in virtually all anoxic habitats where organic compounds are present, including soils, aquatic sediments and the intestinal tracts of animals and humans. This shape is attributed to the presence of endospores that develop under conditions unfavorable for vegetative growth and distend single cells terminally or sub-terminally. Spores germinate under conditions favorable for vegetative growth, such as anaerobiosis and presence of organic substrates. It is believed that present day Mollicutes (Eubacteria) have evolved regressively (i.e., by genome reduction) from gram-positive clostridia-like ancestors with a low GC content in DNA. Some species are capable of producing organic solvents (acetone, ethanol, etc,), molecular hydrogen and other useful compounds. Clostridium novyi is an anaerobic bacterium found in soil, aquatic sediments, and intestinal tract of both animals and humans. Some types produce lethal toxins.