Query: NC_008011:663958 Lawsonia intracellularis PHE/MN1-00, complete genome
Lineage: Lawsonia intracellularis; Lawsonia; Desulfovibrionaceae; Desulfovibrionales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Lawsonia intracellularis PHE/MN1-00 was isolated from intestinal mucosal lesions in pigs that had proliferative enteropathy (PE). When introduced into health pigs, this organism produced the clinical and histological signs of PE. Causative agent for proliferative enteropathy in swine. This organism causes proliferative enteropathy (ileitis) in swine and other domesticated animals resulting in severe losses each year. This obligate intracellular pathogen infects the mucosa of the lower intestinal tract by initially infecting crypt cells, which are precursors that normally grow and divide in order to replace the epithelial cells. Once infection occurs, the crypt cells are stimulated to grow and divide abnormally, resulting in the proliferative phenotype. In severe cases of the disease the entire bowel can become affected and persist for up to 40 days, greatly affecting the host animal.
Subject: NC_008593:2527064 Clostridium novyi NT, complete genome
Lineage: Clostridium novyi; Clostridium; Clostridiaceae; Clostridiales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: This strain (NT) was created so that it lacks the lethal toxin. Injection of spores of this organism into mice harboring tumors resulted in an increased immune response and destruction of the tumor tissue in a method known as COBALT (combination bacteriolytic therapy) when the spores along with chemotherapeutic agents or radiation are co-administered. The anaerobic bacteria preferentially target hypoxic cancer tissue and stimulate immune responses to that tissue. This genus comprises about 150 metabolically diverse species of anaerobes that are ubiquitous in virtually all anoxic habitats where organic compounds are present, including soils, aquatic sediments and the intestinal tracts of animals and humans. This shape is attributed to the presence of endospores that develop under conditions unfavorable for vegetative growth and distend single cells terminally or sub-terminally. Spores germinate under conditions favorable for vegetative growth, such as anaerobiosis and presence of organic substrates. It is believed that present day Mollicutes (Eubacteria) have evolved regressively (i.e., by genome reduction) from gram-positive clostridia-like ancestors with a low GC content in DNA. Some species are capable of producing organic solvents (acetone, ethanol, etc,), molecular hydrogen and other useful compounds. Clostridium novyi is an anaerobic bacterium found in soil, aquatic sediments, and intestinal tract of both animals and humans. Some types produce lethal toxins.