Query: NC_014623:6150028 Stigmatella aurantiaca DW4/3-1 chromosome, complete genome
Lineage: Stigmatella aurantiaca; Stigmatella; Cystobacteraceae; Myxococcales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Social gliding soil bacterium. Stigmatella aurantica, commonly isolated from rotting wood and bark, is a member of a group of organisms called myxobacteria. These organisms have a complex development and differentiation life cycle. When cell density increases, the organism switches to "social motility" where aggregates of cells can gather together into masses termed fruiting bodies that may consist of up to 100,000 cells. Stigmatella aurantica produces a number of compounds, such as aurafuron A and stigmatellin, which may be important as anti-cancer agents.
Subject: NC_021150:2546000 Azotobacter vinelandii CA6, 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.