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_009882:278384 Rickettsia rickettsii str. 'Sheila Smith', complete genome
Lineage: Rickettsia rickettsii; Rickettsia; Rickettsiaceae; Rickettsiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This strain was isolated from from a patient with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Causative agent for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. This genus, like other Rickettsial organisms such as Neorickettsia and Anaplasma, are obligate intracellular pathogens and is composed of two groups, the spotted fever group, and the typhus group. The latter is composed of two organisms, Rickettsia prowazekii and Rickettsia typhi. The bacteria are transmitted via an insect, usually a tick, to a host organism, in this case humans, where they target endothelial cells and sometimes macrophages. They attach via an adhesin, rickettsial outer membrane protein A, and are internalized where they persist as cytoplasmically free organisms. Rickettsia rickettsii was first identified by Dr. Howard Rickets as the causative agent of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which was originally named for its geographic distribution at the time, it is now known to be widespread throughout the North American continent. This bacterium is an obligate intracellular pathogen that infects primarily the vascular endothelium, and occasionally smooth muscle tissue. This bacterium is an obligate intracellular pathogen that infects primarily the vascular endothelium, and occasionally smooth muscle tissue. It is passed to the human host from a tick bite, and the tick acts as both a natural reservoir and a vector for disease transmission. Once the organism is endocytosed by the host cell, it quickly escapes the phagozome, and replicates intracellularly, causing cell death and tissue damage. The disease is characterized by a spotted rash and has a high mortality rate if left untreated.