Query: NC_015474:644552 Pyrococcus sp. NA2 chromosome, complete genome
Lineage: Pyrococcus; Pyrococcus; Thermococcaceae; Thermococcales; Euryarchaeota; Archaea
General Information: Pyrococcus has similar characteristics of other thermoautotrophican archaea such as Archaeoglobus, and Methanococcus in the respect that they are all thermophilic and anaerobic. Pyrococcus differs, however, because its optimal growth temperature is nearly 100 °C and dwells at a greater sea depth than the other archaea. Studying Pyrococcus helps give insight to possible mechanisms used to endure extreme environmental conditions like high temperatures and high pressure.
Subject: NC_008043:499399 Silicibacter sp. TM1040 mega plasmid, complete sequence
Lineage: Ruegeria; Ruegeria; Rhodobacteraceae; Rhodobacterales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This strain was isolated from a culture of the dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida CCMP1830 which has been implicated in many large scale algal blooms resulting in increased mortality in fish. The bacteria are attached to the surface of the dinoflagellate and in some ways allow the dinoflagellate to grow as those lacking the bacteria die off. The bacterium also chemotaxes towards the dinoflagellate product DMSP (dimethylsulfoniopropionate) and metabolizes it. DMSP is a major source of sulfur in marine ecosystems and plays a role in the sulfur biogeochemical cycle. The implication is a tight association between these important dinoflagellates and this marine bacterium.