Query: NC_005303:553500 Onion yellows phytoplasma OY-M, complete genome
Lineage: Onion yellows phytoplasma; Phytoplasma; Acholeplasmataceae; Acholeplasmatales; Tenericutes; Bacteria
General Information: This strain (OY-M) is derived from a wild-type disease-causing strain (OY-W; onions yellow disease) which was isolated in Saga Prefecture, Japan, in 1982, and shows mild symptoms and does not cause stunting nor phloem hyperplasia (excessive increase in number of cells). Plant pathogenic bacterium. Phytoplasmas inhabit phloem (food-conducting vascular tissue) sieve elements of plants where they cause a variety of diseases. There is great interest in sequencing these organisms since they are currently unculturable and examination of the genome may lead to methods to deal with the diseases they cause including the development of antimicrobial agents. There is great interest in sequencing these organisms since they are currently unculturable and examination of the genome may lead to methods to deal with the diseases they cause including the development of antimicrobial agents.
Subject: NC_012560:4311906 Azotobacter vinelandii DJ, complete genome
Lineage: Azotobacter vinelandii; Azotobacter; Pseudomonadaceae; Pseudomonadales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This organism was first isolated from the soil in Vineland, New Jersey, although it is found worldwide. It is a large obligate aerobe that has one of the highest respiratory rates of any organism. Azotobacter vinelandii also produces a number of unusual nitrogenases which allow it to fix atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, a compound it can then use as a nitrogen source. It protects the oxygen-sensitive nitrogenase enzymes through its high respiratory rate, which sequesters the nitrogenase complexes in an anoxic environment. This organism has a number of unusual characteristics. Under extreme environmental conditions, the cell will produce a cyst that is resistant to dessication and is surrounded by two capsular polysaccharide layers. This organism produces two industrially important polysaccharides, poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and alginate. PHB is a thermoplastic biopolymer, and alginate is used in the food industry. Alginate is also used by the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa to infect the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients.