Query: NC_013859:9500 Azospirillum sp. B510 plasmid pAB510e, complete sequence
Lineage: Azospirillum; Azospirillum; Rhodospirillaceae; Rhodospirillales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Azospirillum are commonly isolated from the rhizosphere and root surfaces from a wide variety of plants. Azospirillum species are considered to be plant growth promoting organisms, producing plant hormones for cell elongation (auxins), cell division and growth (cytokinins) and stem elongation (gibberellins). These compounds contribute to an enhanced uptake of nutrients and water and thus increased plant growth. Azospirillum sp. B510 was isolated from rice in Japan.
Subject: NC_008710:621822 Borrelia turicatae 91E135, complete genome
Lineage: Borrelia turicatae; Borrelia; Spirochaetaceae; Spirochaetales; Spirochaetes; Bacteria
General Information: This strain was isolated in the USA from the soft tick Ornithodoros turicatae. Borrelia turicatae is the causative agent of tick-borne relapsing fever in the southwestern USA. Ticks become infected with Borrelia while feeding on an infected mammal, usually a rodent or squirrel. Borrelia then multiplies rapidly, causing a generalized infection throughout the tick. While feeding, the tick passes the spirochete into a mammalian host through its infectious saliva. Relapsing fever is characterized by period of chills, fever, headache, and malaise, followed by an asymptomatic, followed by another episode of symptoms. The cycle of relapsing is due to changes in the surface proteins of Borrelia, which allow it to avoid detection and removal by the host immune system. This antigenic variation is the result of homologous recombination of silent proteins into an expressed locus, causing partial or complete replacement of one serotype with another. These plasmids carry genes involved in antigenic variation and pathogenicity.