Query: NC_013928:9494 Streptococcus mutans NN2025, complete genome Lineage: Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcus; Streptococcaceae; Lactobacillales; Firmicutes; Bacteria General Information: This strain is a clinical serotype c strain isolated in Japan in 2002. Streptococci are Gram-positive, nonmotile, nonsporeforming, catalase-negative cocci that occur in pairs or chains. Members of this genus vary widely in pathogenic potential. Most streptococci are facultative anaerobes, and some are obligate anaerobes. Streptococcus mutans was first isolated in 1924 from human carious (cavities) lesions and is the main cause of tooth decay. This organism thrives in a bacterial community known as a dental plaque which forms on the surface of teeth. This organism has also been implicated in cases of infective endocarditis.
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General Information: This red-pigmented organism's name means "strange berry that withstands radiation", marking the fact that this organism is one of the most radiation-resistant known. It can tolerate radiation levels at 1000 times the levels that would kill a human and it was originally isolated in 1956 from a can of meat that had been irradiated with X-rays. The resistance to radiation may reflect its resistance to dessication, which also causes DNA damage. This organism may be of use in cleaning up toxic metals found at nuclear weapons production sites due to the radiation resistance. This bacterium is also a highly efficient transformer, and can readily take up exogenous DNA from the environment, which may also aid DNA repair. This organism carries multiple copies of many DNA repair genes, suggesting a robust system for dealing with DNA damage. The recombination system may rely on multiple copies of various repeat elements found throughout the genome.