Query: NC_012803:1552122 Micrococcus luteus NCTC 2665, complete genome
Lineage: Micrococcus luteus; Micrococcus; Micrococcaceae; Actinomycetales; Actinobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Temp: Mesophile; Habitat: Soil. Micrococcus luteus NCTC 2665 has potential in bioremediation due to its ability to sequester metals (i.e. gold and strontium), and it is being used for gold concentration from low-abundance ores. Micrococcus luteus was originally isolated by Alexander Fleming in 1929 as Micrococcus lysodeikticus. This organism can be found in many environments including soil, water, animals, and dairy products. Micrococcus luteus is able to survive in the environment for long periods and has been isolated from inclusions in amber.
Subject: NC_008593:2527064 Clostridium novyi NT, complete genome
Lineage: Clostridium novyi; Clostridium; Clostridiaceae; Clostridiales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: This strain (NT) was created so that it lacks the lethal toxin. Injection of spores of this organism into mice harboring tumors resulted in an increased immune response and destruction of the tumor tissue in a method known as COBALT (combination bacteriolytic therapy) when the spores along with chemotherapeutic agents or radiation are co-administered. The anaerobic bacteria preferentially target hypoxic cancer tissue and stimulate immune responses to that tissue. This genus comprises about 150 metabolically diverse species of anaerobes that are ubiquitous in virtually all anoxic habitats where organic compounds are present, including soils, aquatic sediments and the intestinal tracts of animals and humans. This shape is attributed to the presence of endospores that develop under conditions unfavorable for vegetative growth and distend single cells terminally or sub-terminally. Spores germinate under conditions favorable for vegetative growth, such as anaerobiosis and presence of organic substrates. It is believed that present day Mollicutes (Eubacteria) have evolved regressively (i.e., by genome reduction) from gram-positive clostridia-like ancestors with a low GC content in DNA. Some species are capable of producing organic solvents (acetone, ethanol, etc,), molecular hydrogen and other useful compounds. Clostridium novyi is an anaerobic bacterium found in soil, aquatic sediments, and intestinal tract of both animals and humans. Some types produce lethal toxins.