Pre_GI: SWBIT SVG BLASTN

Query: NC_004557:1 Clostridium tetani E88, complete genome

Lineage: Clostridium tetani; Clostridium; Clostridiaceae; Clostridiales; Firmicutes; Bacteria

General Information: This strain is a virulent nonsporulating variant of strain Massachusetts used in vaccine production. Causes tetanus. 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. Known opportunistic toxin-producing pathogens in animals and humans. Some species are capable of producing organic solvents (acetone, ethanol, etc,), molecular hydrogen and other useful compounds. This organism causes tetanus (lockjaw) in humans. At the tissue level, the bacterium then releases an exotoxin called tetanospasmin that causes certain nervous system irregularities by means of retrograde tramsmission through neurons to the brain. If nervous impulses cannot be checked by normal inhibitory mechanisms, it produces the generalized muscular spasms characteristic of tetanus.

Subject: NC_008358:2808299 Hyphomonas neptunium ATCC 15444, complete genome

Lineage: Hyphomonas neptunium; Hyphomonas; Hyphomonadaceae; Rhodobacterales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria

General Information: Marine member of dimorphic prosthecate bacteria. This organism is also known as Hyphomicrobium neptunium. It has a biphasic life style, which consists of a motile phase of flagellated swarmer cells, and a cessile phase in which a long prosthecate is produced at one end of the bacteria through which budding cells emerge. Newly budded cells in turn produce flagella and go through a motile phase and the cycle continues. These organisms can colonize the surfaces of marine environments which enables additional species to colonize at later stages. This organism may be of use in treatment of water as they attach to a solid surface and are capable of degradation of a number of pollutants including aromatic hydrocarbons, dimethyl sulfoxide and methyl chloride.