Query: NC_014323:3669704 Herbaspirillum seropedicae SmR1 chromosome, complete genome Lineage: Herbaspirillum seropedicae; Herbaspirillum; Oxalobacteraceae; Burkholderiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria General Information: Root-associated nitrogen-fixing bacterium. Herbaspirillum seropedicae is an endophitic nitrogen-fixing beta-Proteobacteria found associated with important crops such as sugarcane, wheat, maize, rice and sorghum. It is non-phytopathogenic and produces interesting biotechnological products such as polybetaalkanoates and cyanophycin. Herbaspirillum seropedicae was isolated from the roots of rice plants, and is member of a group of free-living soil bacteria known to promote plant growth. The yields of rice and sorghum were significantly increased when grown in soil inoculated with Herbaspirillum seropedicae.
- Sequence; - BLASTP hit: hover for score (Low score = Light, High score = Dark); - hypothetical protein; - cds: hover for description
General Information: This organism was isolated from the blood of wild rats and from fleas obtained from wild rats. Transmission of these organisms is often through an insect vector. Once in a host, this intracellular pathogen is internalized by an actin-dependent mechanism, and primarily targets endothelial cells, although other cells can be infected. The proliferation of the vascular endothelium (bacillary angiomatosis) is characterisitic of Bartonella infection and results in multiplication of the bacterium's host cells. Infected macrophages are stimulated to release vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin 1 beta, both of which promote angiogenesis. Endothelial cells are also stimulated to grow and divide by direct contact with bacterial cells. In addition, programmed cell death (apoptosis) of endothelial cells is inhibited, combatting a common mechanism eukaryotic cells use to deal with bacterial infection. Other pathogenicity factors include pili and outer membrane adhesins for attachment to host cells. This organism is genetically related to Bartonella elizabethae which was isolated from a case of endocarditis in a human.