Query: NC_003413:128228 Pyrococcus furiosus DSM 3638, complete genome Lineage: Pyrococcus furiosus; Pyrococcus; Thermococcaceae; Thermococcales; Euryarchaeota; Archaea General Information: This strain was isolated from a shallow marine solfataric (volcanic area that gives off sulfuric gases) region at Vulcano Island, Italy. This organism is a strictly anaerobic, hyperthermophilic archaeon. Growth occurs at temperatures between 67 and 103 degrees C, with optimal growth at 100 degrees C and a pH of 7.0. This organism is highly motile due to a bundle of flagella.
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General Information: This organism is associated with severe and chronic periodontal (tissues surrounding and supporting the tooth) diseases. Progression of the disease is caused by colonization by this organism in an anaerobic environment in host tissues and severe progression results in loss of the tissues supporting the tooth and eventually loss of the tooth itself. The black pigmentation characteristic of this bacterium comes from iron acquisition that does not use the typical siderophore system of other bacteria but accumulates hemin. Peptides appear to be the predominant carbon and energy source of this organism, perhaps in keeping with its ability to destroy host tissue. Oxygen tolerance systems play a part in establishment of the organism in the oral cavity, including a superoxide dismutase. Pathogenic factors include extracellular adhesins that mediate interactions with other bacteria as well as the extracellular matrix, and a host of degradative enzymes that are responsible for tissue degradation and spread of the organism including the gingipains, which are trypsin-like cysteine proteases.