Query: NC_010994:859500 Rhizobium etli CIAT 652, complete genome
Lineage: Rhizobium etli; Rhizobium; Rhizobiaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: It is a nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria that interacts with the root of the common bean plant Phaseolus vulgaris. The molecular biology and evolution of R. etli and its relation to other nitrogen/fixing symbionts has been well studied. The genomic sequence will provide information on the process of symbiosis, on the genetic systems that allow the survival and adaptations of this bacteria to the soil, and on the evolutionary relationship and the symbiosis origin of this organism.
Subject: NC_010120:1065833 Neisseria meningitidis 053442, complete genome
Lineage: Neisseria meningitidis; Neisseria; Neisseriaceae; Neisseriales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Causes septicemia and meningitis. The second of two pathogenic Neisseria, this organism causes septicemia and is the leading cause of life-threatening meningitis (inflammation of the meninges, the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord) in children. This organism typically residies in the nasopharynx cavity but can invade the respiratory epthelial barrier, cross into the bloodstream and the blood brain barrier, and cause inflammation of the meninges. Pathogenicity factors include the surface proteins (porins and opacity proteins), and the type IV pilus (which is also found in Neisseria gonorrhoeae). Pathogenicity factors include the surface proteins (porins and opacity proteins), and the type IV pilus (which is also found in Neisseria gonorrhoeae). This organism, like Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is naturally competent, and protein complexes at the cell surface recognize the uptake signal sequence in extracellular DNA, an 8mer that is found at high frequency in Neisseria chromosomal DNA.