Query: NC_012560:2026483 Azotobacter vinelandii DJ, complete genome
Lineage: Azotobacter vinelandii; Azotobacter; Pseudomonadaceae; Pseudomonadales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This organism was first isolated from the soil in Vineland, New Jersey, although it is found worldwide. It is a large obligate aerobe that has one of the highest respiratory rates of any organism. Azotobacter vinelandii also produces a number of unusual nitrogenases which allow it to fix atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, a compound it can then use as a nitrogen source. It protects the oxygen-sensitive nitrogenase enzymes through its high respiratory rate, which sequesters the nitrogenase complexes in an anoxic environment. This organism has a number of unusual characteristics. Under extreme environmental conditions, the cell will produce a cyst that is resistant to dessication and is surrounded by two capsular polysaccharide layers. This organism produces two industrially important polysaccharides, poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and alginate. PHB is a thermoplastic biopolymer, and alginate is used in the food industry. Alginate is also used by the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa to infect the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients.
Subject: NC_007705:3429493 Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae MAFF 311018, complete genome
Lineage: Xanthomonas oryzae; Xanthomonas; Xanthomonadaceae; Xanthomonadales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This plant pathogen affects rice plants by causing leaf blight, a major problem in Asian countries where rice production occurs on an industrial scale. This pathogen enters the xylem and spreads throughout the vascular tissue of the plant, which results in wilting of the plant, or to leaf blight if the infection occurs later in development. Causes disease in rice. This genus consists of plant-specific yellow-pigmented microbes, some of which are economically important phytopathogens that devastate crops such as citrus plants, rice, beans, grape, and cotton. These organisms are almost exclusively found associated with their plant hosts and are not found free in the soil. Xanthomonas oryzae contains two pathovars which cause enconomically significant diseases in rice. Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzicola causes bacterial streak. This disease is common in tropical area and can cause crop losses of up to 32%. Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae causes bacterial leaf blight which is one of the most serious diseases of rice. This disease is common in temperate and tropical areas and can cause significant crop loss.