Query: NC_003923:473743 Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus MW2, complete genome
Lineage: Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcaceae; Bacillales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: This strain is a community-acquired methicillin-resistant (MSRA) strain and is one of the major pathogens causing community-acquired infections in the Midwestern USA. Several fatal infections were attributed to this strain in the late 1990's. Causes skin infections. Staphylcocci are generally found inhabiting the skin and mucous membranes of mammals and birds. Some members of this genus can be found as human commensals and these are generally believed to have the greatest pathogenic potential in opportunistic infections. This organism is a major cause of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) and community-acquired infections. S. aureus continues to be a major cause of mortality and is responsible for a variety of infections including, boils, furuncles, styes, impetigo and other superficial skin infections in humans. Also known to cause more serious infections particularly in the chronically ill or immunocompromised. The ability to cause invasive disease is associated with persistance in the nasal cavity of a host.
Subject: NC_006397:1 Haloarcula marismortui ATCC 43049 chromosome II, complete sequence
Lineage: Haloarcula marismortui; Haloarcula; Halobacteriaceae; Halobacteriales; Euryarchaeota; Archaea
General Information: This organism was isolated from the Dead Sea and will provide information on the proteins necessary for adaptation to a high salt environment. Halophilic archaeon. Halobacterial species are obligately halophilic microorganisms that have adapted to optimal growth under conditions of extremely high salinity 10 times that of sea water. They contain a correspondingly high concentration of salts internally and exhibit a variety of unusual and unique molecular characteristics. Since their discovery, extreme halophiles have been studied extensively by chemists, biochemists, microbiologists, and molecular biologists to define both molecular diversity and universal features of life. A notable list of early research milestones on halophiles includes the discovery of a cell envelope composed of an S-layer glycoprotein, archaeol ether lipids and purple membrane, and metabolic and biosynthetic processes operating at saturating salinities. These early discoveries established the value of investigations directed at extremophiles and set the stage for pioneering phylogenetic studies leading to the three-domain view of life and classification of Halobacterium as a member of the archaeal domain. This organism is also know as "Halobacterium of the Dead Sea". Growth occurs in 1.7-5.1 M NaCl with optimum salt concentration of 3.4-3.9 M NaCl. The cytosol of this organism is a supersaturated salt solution in which proteins are soluble and active. This halophile is chemoorganotrophic and able to use a wide variety of compounds as sole carbon and energy sources.