Query: NC_009480:1261961 Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis NCPPB 382, complete
Lineage: Clavibacter michiganensis; Clavibacter; Microbacteriaceae; Actinomycetales; Actinobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Phytopathogen that causes bacterial wilt and canker of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). This is considered to be the most important bacterial disease of tomato causing substantial economic losses worldwide. Bacteria enter the plant by wounds on root or stem and then find their way into the xylem allowing a massive systemic colonization. The first stage of the disease is characterized by unilateral wilting of leaves. Wilting then spreads to all leaves, canker lesions develop on the stem and the plant dies. If infection occurs at a late stage of plant development, plants can survive and yield fruit that may have spots, so called bird's eyes. Often the seeds will be infected and this has been the major source for outbreaks of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis infections in agriculture. Members of the Clavibacter genus are known to produce antimicrobial compounds.
Subject: NC_007530:5197854 Bacillus anthracis str. 'Ames Ancestor', complete genome
Lineage: Bacillus anthracis; Bacillus; Bacillaceae; Bacillales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: This is the type strain (0581, A2084, genotype 62, Group A3.b) for Bacillus anthracis and contains the two virulence plasmids, pOX1 and pOX2, that encode anthrax toxin and capsule, respectively, making this a virulent strain. This strain is considered the "gold standard" for B. anthracis. Under starvation conditions this group of bacteria initiate a pathway that leads to endospore formation, a process that is thoroughly studied and is a model system for prokaryotic development and differentiation. Spores are highly resistant to heat, cold, dessication, radiation, and disinfectants, and enable the organism to persist in otherwise inhospitable environments. Under more inviting conditions the spores germinate to produce vegetative cells. This organism was the first to be shown to cause disease by Dr. Louis Pasteur (the organism, isolated from sick animals, was grown in the laboratory and then used to infect healthy animals and make them sick). This organism was also the first for which an attenuated strain was developed as a vaccine. Herbivorous animals become infected with the organism when they ingest spores from the soil whereas humans become infected when they come into contact with a contaminated animal. PA/LF and PA/EF complexes are internalized by host cells where the LF (metalloprotease) and EF (calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase) components act. At high levels LF induces cell death and release of the bacterium while EF increases host susceptibility to infection and promotes fluid accumulation in the cells.