Query: NC_008095:3785848 Myxococcus xanthus DK 1622, complete genome
Lineage: Myxococcus xanthus; Myxococcus; Myxococcaceae; Myxococcales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: First isolated from soil in 1941. Bacterium with a multi-stage lifecycle. M.xanthus is a Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium. This organism undergoes a complex development and differentiation pathway. When cell density increases, the organism switches to "social motility" where aggregates of cells can gather together into masses termed fruiting bodies that may consist of up to 100 000 cells. This organism is also utilized industrially to produce the anticancer drug epithilone.
Subject: NC_007298:1666480 Dechloromonas aromatica RCB, complete genome
Lineage: Dechloromonas aromatica; Dechloromonas; Rhodocyclaceae; Rhodocyclales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This strain was enriched as a hydrocarbon-oxidizing chlorate-reducer from the Potomac River, Maryland, USA. This organism is the first one to have the capability of benzene oxidation in pure anaerobic culture by coupling it to nitrate reduction which is of importance due to the anaerobic environments often found in bioremediation projects. It can reduce perchlorate and chlorate to chloride. This organism may be used for bioremediation as it can oxidize aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, including benzene, in the absence of oxygen. Benzene is an important pollutant, and is used in many manufacturing processes and is a component of diesel fuel.