Pre_GI: SWBIT SVG BLASTP

Query: NC_005956:1572500 Bartonella henselae str. Houston-1, complete genome

Lineage: Bartonella henselae; Bartonella; Bartonellaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria

General Information: Bartonella henselae str. Houston-1 (ATCC 49882) was isolated from human blood in Houston Texas. Causative agent of cat scratch fever. This group of alpha proteobacteria are unique among pathogens in that they cause angiogenic lesions. This organism was identified as the causative agent of cat scratch fever, a disease found commonly in children or in immunocompromised adults. The proliferation of the vascular endothelium (bacillary angiomatosis) is characterisitic of Bartonella infection and results in multiplication of the bacterium's host cells. Infected macrophages are stimulated to release vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin 1 beta, both of which promote angiogenesis. Endothelial cells are also stimulated to grow and divide by direct contact with bacterial cells. In addition, programmed cell death (apoptosis) of endothelial cells is inhibited, combatting a common mechanism eukaryotic cells use to deal with bacterial infection. Other pathogenicity factors include pili and outer membrane adhesins for attachment to host cells.

Subject: NC_005303:553500 Onion yellows phytoplasma OY-M, complete genome

Lineage: Onion yellows phytoplasma; Phytoplasma; Acholeplasmataceae; Acholeplasmatales; Tenericutes; Bacteria

General Information: This strain (OY-M) is derived from a wild-type disease-causing strain (OY-W; onions yellow disease) which was isolated in Saga Prefecture, Japan, in 1982, and shows mild symptoms and does not cause stunting nor phloem hyperplasia (excessive increase in number of cells). Plant pathogenic bacterium. Phytoplasmas inhabit phloem (food-conducting vascular tissue) sieve elements of plants where they cause a variety of diseases. There is great interest in sequencing these organisms since they are currently unculturable and examination of the genome may lead to methods to deal with the diseases they cause including the development of antimicrobial agents. There is great interest in sequencing these organisms since they are currently unculturable and examination of the genome may lead to methods to deal with the diseases they cause including the development of antimicrobial agents.