Query: NC_006624:2016000 Thermococcus kodakarensis KOD1, complete genome
Lineage: Thermococcus kodakarensis; Thermococcus; Thermococcaceae; Thermococcales; Euryarchaeota; Archaea
General Information: This organism was originally identified as Pyrococcus sp. strain KOD1. It was isolated from a solfatara on Kodakara Island, Japan. Hyperthermophilic archeon. This genus is a member of the order Thermococcales in the Euryarchaeota. Thermococcus sp. are the most commonly isolated hyperthermophilic organisms and are often isolated from marine hydrothermal vents and terrestrial hot sulfur springs. Elemental sulfur is either required for, or stimulates, growth. These obligate heterotrophs can ferment a variety of organic compounds, including peptides, amino acids, and sugars in the absence of sulfur. Thermococcus kodakaraensis is a hyperthermophilic archeon. Proteins from this organism have been extensively studied to find thermostable enzymes for industrial and biotechnological applications.
Subject: NC_004917:946550 Helicobacter hepaticus ATCC 51449, complete genome
Lineage: Helicobacter hepaticus; Helicobacter; Helicobacteraceae; Campylobacterales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This organism was found to be linked to an increasing incidence of liver tumors in mouse colonies at the National Cancer Institute in 1992. Normally it resides in the lower intestines, but it can cause chronic hepatitis. This organism has a similar urease gene cluster and cytolethal distending toxin as compared to Helicobacter pylori, but lacks other virulence factors such as the vacuolating cytotoxin and the cag pathogenicity island. However, it does contain a pathogenicity island that encodes proteins similar to those found in a type IV secretion system. Causes liver disease. This genus consists of organisms that colonize the mucosal layer of the gastrointestinal tract or are found enterohepatically (in the liver). This species was associated with an increase in liver tumors. It can cause active chronic hepatitis and typhlitis (inflammation of a region at the beginning of the large intestine), hepatocellular tumors, and gastric bowel disease in various mice strains.