Query: NC_011978:493800 Thermotoga neapolitana DSM 4359, complete genome
Lineage: Thermotoga neapolitana; Thermotoga; Thermotogaceae; Thermotogales; Thermotogae; Bacteria
General Information: This hyperthermophilic organism was first isolated from a black smoker in the bay near Naples, Italy in 1986. This organism, like other Thermotoga, produces a vast quantity of hydrogen in batch culture. It is being considered for use in projects to utilize waste carboydrates for the production of hydrogen gas for industrial purposes. A number of thermostable enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase are also produced by this bacterium and may be of use for industrial purposes.
Subject: NC_002950:1748582 Porphyromonas gingivalis W83, complete genome
Lineage: Porphyromonas gingivalis; Porphyromonas; Porphyromonadaceae; Bacteroidales; Bacteroidetes; Bacteria
General Information: This strain (also known as HG66) is virulent in a mouse model and has been extensively studied. It was originally isolated by H. Werner in the 1950s in Bonn, Germany, from an unknown human infection. Associated with severe and chronic periodontal disease. This organism is associated with severe and chronic periodontal (tissues surrounding and supporting the tooth) diseases. Progression of the disease is caused by colonization by this organism in an anaerobic environment in host tissues and severe progression results in loss of the tissues supporting the tooth and eventually loss of the tooth itself. The black pigmentation characteristic of this bacterium comes from iron acquisition that does not use the typical siderophore system of other bacteria but accumulates hemin.Peptides appear to be the predominant carbon and energy source of this organism, perhaps in keeping with its ability to destroy host tissue. Oxygen tolerance systems play a part in establishment of the organism in the oral cavity, including a superoxide dismutase. Pathogenic factors include extracellular adhesins that mediate interactions with other bacteria as well as the extracellular matrix, and a host of degradative enzymes that are responsible for tissue degradation and spread of the organism including the gingipains, which are trypsin-like cysteine proteases.