Query: NC_010725:750911 Methylobacterium populi BJ001, complete genome Lineage: Methylobacterium populi; Methylobacterium; Methylobacteriaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria General Information: This species was isolated from tissue cultures of Populus, the Poplar tree. Colonies are pink to red, and the red pigment is water insoluble. Species of the genus Methylobacterium are strictly aerobic, facultatively methylotrophic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria that are able to grow on one-carbon compounds (e.g. methanol or methylamine), as well as on a variety of C2, C3 and C4 substrates. Only the type species, Methylobacterium organophilum, has been shown to use methane as the sole source of carbon and energy. Members of the genus are distributed in a wide variety of natural and man-made environments, including soil, air, dust, fresh- and marine water and sediments, water supplies, bathrooms, air-conditioning systems and masonry, and some are opportunistic human pathogens.
- Sequence; - BLASTN hit (Low score = Light, High score = Dark) - hypothetical protein; - cds: hover for description
General Information: This organism was isolated from the blood of wild rats and from fleas obtained from wild rats. Transmission of these organisms is often through an insect vector. Once in a host, this intracellular pathogen is internalized by an actin-dependent mechanism, and primarily targets endothelial cells, although other cells can be infected. The proliferation of the vascular endothelium (bacillary angiomatosis) is characterisitic of Bartonella infection and results in multiplication of the bacterium's host cells. Infected macrophages are stimulated to release vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin 1 beta, both of which promote angiogenesis. Endothelial cells are also stimulated to grow and divide by direct contact with bacterial cells. In addition, programmed cell death (apoptosis) of endothelial cells is inhibited, combatting a common mechanism eukaryotic cells use to deal with bacterial infection. Other pathogenicity factors include pili and outer membrane adhesins for attachment to host cells. This organism is genetically related to Bartonella elizabethae which was isolated from a case of endocarditis in a human.