Query: NC_007354:233991 Ehrlichia canis str. Jake, complete genome
Lineage: Ehrlichia canis; Ehrlichia; Anaplasmataceae; Rickettsiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This strain was isolated in 1989 in North Carolina, USA from a 2-year-old male dog. This organisms causes canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, which is a tick-born disease that causes severe morbidity in domesticated and wild dogs. The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, transfers the organism from its salivary glands to the animal when feeding. Persistence in the vacuole leads to replication and cell division and eventual release from the cell which leads to further spreading of the bacterium throughout the host. The end result is an increase in platelet count and anemia.
Subject: NC_020207:2575808 Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354, complete genome
Lineage: Enterococcus faecium; Enterococcus; Enterococcaceae; Lactobacillales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: This genera consists of organisms typically found in the intestines of mammals, although through fecal contamination they can appear in sewage, soil, and water. They cause a number of infections that are becoming increasingly a problem due to the number of antibiotic resistance mechanisms these organisms have picked up. Both Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium cause similar diseases in humans, and are mainly distinguished by their metabolic capabilities. This opportunistic pathogen causes a range of infections similar to those observed with Enterococcus faecalis, including urinary tract infections, bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), and infective endocarditis (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart). Hospital-acquired infections from this organism are on the rise due to the emergence of antiobiotic resistance strains and has led to the rise of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains due to the horizontal transfer of Enterococcus antibiotic resistance genes. Little is known about the virulence mechanisms in this organism, but the genome does encode an esp gene for the surface adhesin. Vancomycin resistant isolates are more typically Enterococcus faecium than Enterococcus faecalis.