Query: NC_006624:2016000 Thermococcus kodakarensis KOD1, complete genome
Lineage: Thermococcus kodakarensis; Thermococcus; Thermococcaceae; Thermococcales; Euryarchaeota; Archaea
General Information: This organism was originally identified as Pyrococcus sp. strain KOD1. It was isolated from a solfatara on Kodakara Island, Japan. Hyperthermophilic archeon. This genus is a member of the order Thermococcales in the Euryarchaeota. Thermococcus sp. are the most commonly isolated hyperthermophilic organisms and are often isolated from marine hydrothermal vents and terrestrial hot sulfur springs. Elemental sulfur is either required for, or stimulates, growth. These obligate heterotrophs can ferment a variety of organic compounds, including peptides, amino acids, and sugars in the absence of sulfur. Thermococcus kodakaraensis is a hyperthermophilic archeon. Proteins from this organism have been extensively studied to find thermostable enzymes for industrial and biotechnological applications.
Subject: NC_008767:1888950 Neisseria meningitidis FAM18, complete genome
Lineage: Neisseria meningitidis; Neisseria; Neisseriaceae; Neisseriales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Isolated from a patient with meningococcal septicemia. Causes septicemia and meningitis. The second of two pathogenic Neisseria, this organism causes septicemia and is the leading cause of life-threatening meningitis (inflammation of the meninges, the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord) in children. This organism typically residies in the nasopharynx cavity but can invade the respiratory epthelial barrier, cross into the bloodstream and the blood brain barrier, and cause inflammation of the meninges. Pathogenicity factors include the surface proteins (porins and opacity proteins), and the type IV pilus (which is also found in Neisseria gonorrhoeae). Pathogenicity factors include the surface proteins (porins and opacity proteins), and the type IV pilus (which is also found in Neisseria gonorrhoeae). This organism, like Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is naturally competent, and protein complexes at the cell surface recognize the uptake signal sequence in extracellular DNA, an 8mer that is found at high frequency in Neisseria chromosomal DNA.