Query: NC_020272:3706722 Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IT-45, complete genome
Lineage: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens; Bacillus; Bacillaceae; Bacillales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a member of a group of free-living soil bacteria known to promote plant growth and suppress plant pathogens. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is able to degrade myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (phytate), making phosphorus more available to plants. This organism also produces antifungal and antibacterial substances, such as bacillomycin D, surfactin, and bacillaene, which protect the plant from pathogenic organisms. In addition, proteases and amylases produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens are used in industrial applications.
Subject: NC_010263:13826 Rickettsia rickettsii str. Iowa, complete genome
Lineage: Rickettsia rickettsii; Rickettsia; Rickettsiaceae; Rickettsiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Causative agent for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. This organism was first identified by Dr. Howard Rickets as the causative agent of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which was originally named for its geographic distribution at the time, it is now known to be widespread throughout the North American continent. This bacterium is an obligate intracellular pathogen that infects primarily the vascular endothelium, and occasionally smooth muscle tissue. It is passed to the human host from a tick bite, and the tick acts as both a natural reservoir and a vector for disease transmission. Once the organism is endocytosed by the host cell, it quickly escapes the phagozome, and replicates intracellularly, causing cell death and tissue damage. The disease is characterized by a spotted rash and has a high mortality rate if left untreated.