Query: NC_007650:420745 Burkholderia thailandensis E264 chromosome II, complete sequence
Lineage: Burkholderia thailandensis; Burkholderia; Burkholderiaceae; Burkholderiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This organism was originally isolated from a rice field sample in Thailand. Burkholderia thailandensis is a common soil saprophyte (lives on decaying organic matter in the soil). This bacterium is very similar to the human and animal pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei but appears to be avirulent. Distinguishing the two organisms is very difficult and may depend on using monoclonal antibodies to detect differences in exopolysaccharide production.
Subject: NC_007384:3151344 Shigella sonnei Ss046, complete genome
Lineage: Shigella sonnei; Shigella; Enterobacteriaceae; Enterobacteriales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This strain is an isolate from an epidemic in China in the 1950s. A leading cause of dysentery. This genus is named for the Japanese scientist (Shiga) who first discovered these organisms in the 1890s. They are closely related to the Escherichia group, and may be considered the same species. These organisms are human-specific pathogens that are transmitted via contaminated food and water and are the leading causes of endemic bacillary dysentery, causing over 160 million cases of infection and 1 million deaths yearly worldwide. The bacteria infect the epithelial lining of the colon, causing acute inflammation by entering the host cell cytoplasm and spreading intercellularly. This extremely virulent organisms that can cause an active infection after a very low exposure. Both the type III secretion system, which delivers effector molecules into the host cell, and some of the translocated effectors such as the invasion plasmid antigens (Ipas), are encoded on the plasmid. The bacterium produces a surface protein that localizes to one pole of the cell (IcsA) which binds to and promotes actin polymerization, resulting in movement of the bacterium through the cell cytoplasm, and eventually to neighboring cells, which results in inflammatory destruction of the mucosal lining. This organism is the leading cause of dysentery in industrialized countries. The disease is usually less severe than other types of Shigella, causing mild diarrhea and dehydration.