Query: NC_006055:689956 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_010263:167450 Rickettsia rickettsii str. Iowa, complete genome
Lineage: Rickettsia rickettsii; Rickettsia; Rickettsiaceae; Rickettsiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Causative agent for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. This organism was first identified by Dr. Howard Rickets as the causative agent of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which was originally named for its geographic distribution at the time, it is now known to be widespread throughout the North American continent. This bacterium is an obligate intracellular pathogen that infects primarily the vascular endothelium, and occasionally smooth muscle tissue. It is passed to the human host from a tick bite, and the tick acts as both a natural reservoir and a vector for disease transmission. Once the organism is endocytosed by the host cell, it quickly escapes the phagozome, and replicates intracellularly, causing cell death and tissue damage. The disease is characterized by a spotted rash and has a high mortality rate if left untreated.