Query: NC_006055:456711 Mesoplasma florum L1, complete genome
Lineage: Mesoplasma florum; Mesoplasma; Entomoplasmataceae; Entomoplasmatales; Tenericutes; Bacteria
General Information: Isolated from the surface of the lemon tree flower. Bacterium which lacks a cell wall. This organism is a member of the Mollicutes which are bacteria that lack a cell wall and are obligately parasitic on a number of organisms including mammals, insects, and plants. Mesoplasma florum is a nonpathogenic organism and is nonmotile and is not closely related to Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Unlike other Mollicutes, this species does not require sterol to be supplied in the media for growth.
Subject: NC_003997:4273579 Bacillus anthracis str. Ames, complete genome
Lineage: Bacillus anthracis; Bacillus; Bacillaceae; Bacillales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: This well studied laboratory strain (Porton isolate) is not virulent due to the loss of the two plasmids, pXO1 and pXO2. Under starvation conditions this group of bacteria initiate a pathway that leads to endospore formation, a process that is thoroughly studied and is a model system for prokaryotic development and differentiation. Spores are highly resistant to heat, cold, dessication, radiation, and disinfectants, and enable the organism to persist in otherwise inhospitable environments. Under more inviting conditions the spores germinate to produce vegetative cells. This organism was the first to be shown to cause disease by Dr. Louis Pasteur (the organism, isolated from sick animals, was grown in the laboratory and then used to infect healthy animals and make them sick). This organism was also the first for which an attenuated strain was developed as a vaccine. Herbivorous animals become infected with the organism when they ingest spores from the soil whereas humans become infected when they come into contact with a contaminated animal. PA/LF and PA/EF complexes are internalized by host cells where the LF (metalloprotease) and EF (calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase) components act. At high levels LF induces cell death and release of the bacterium while EF increases host susceptibility to infection and promotes fluid accumulation in the cells.