Query: NC_008783:1101973 Bartonella bacilliformis KC583, complete genome
Lineage: Bartonella bacilliformis; Bartonella; Bartonellaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Cauative agent of Carrion's disease. Like other members of this genus, Bartonella bacilliformis is an obligate intracellular parasite, which infects red blood cells. Bartonella bacilliformis is the causative agent of Carrion's disease, also called Oroya fever. This disease is found in the western Andes of South America, and is transmitted through an insect vector. Carrion's disease is characterized by an acute, febrile, anemia with a mortality of 40 to 90%. The anemic phase may be followed by a milder secondary episode, characterized by wart-like skin lesions.
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.