Query: NC_006138:1245944 Desulfotalea psychrophila LSv54, complete genome
Lineage: Desulfotalea psychrophila; Desulfotalea; Desulfobulbaceae; Desulfobacterales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This organism was isolated from marine sediments off of the coast of Svalbard, and can grow at temperatures as low as -1.7 degrees C. Sulfate-reducing bacterium. This organism grows on more complex organic compounds such as acetate, propionate, butyrate, lactate as well as by using simpler compounds such as hydrogen. This organism is an important part of global biogeochemical cycling of carbon and other nutrients.
Subject: NC_011059:2233993 Prosthecochloris aestuarii DSM 271, complete genome
Lineage: Prosthecochloris aestuarii; Prosthecochloris; Chlorobiaceae; Chlorobiales; Chlorobi; Bacteria
General Information: This species is a green sulfur bacterium which forms sedimentary biofilm layers. It has been shown to be associated with coral killed by Black-Band Disease (BBD) a microbial infection of larger coral species. This is a concern for reef conservationists as the larger species are responsible for coral scaffolds, and their reduction by disease would have considerable impact on the reef structure. While there is currently no cause-and-effect link between Prosthecochloris aestuarii and BBD, the species was found on coral which was killed by the disease and was not found on healthy coral or in the surrounding seawater.