Query: NC_015711:5479879 Myxococcus fulvus HW-1 chromosome, complete genome
Lineage: Myxococcus fulvus; Myxococcus; Myxococcaceae; Myxococcales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This organism, like other myxobacteria, undergoes a complex development and differentiation pathway. When cell density increases, the organism switches to "social motility" where aggregates of cells can gather together into masses termed fruiting bodies that may consist of up to 100 000 cells. The motility system is not dependent on flagella like most bacteria, but instead relies on twitching pili: short extracellular appendages that may function analogously to oars in a rowboat. The myxobacteria have proved to be a rich source of novel natural products. Myxococcus fulvus produces a number of antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic substances which are being studies for therapeutic applications.
Subject: NC_004578:6089958 Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato str. DC3000, complete genome
Lineage: Pseudomonas syringae group genomosp. 3; Pseudomonas; Pseudomonadaceae; Pseudomonadales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: While pathogenic on Arabidopsis thaliana, it is mainly characterized as causing bacterial speck disease on tomato plants, which has a large economic impact. This organism is mainly endophytic and is a poor colonizes of plant surfaces but can multiply within the host. Bacteria belonging to the Pseudomonas group are common inhabitants of soil and water and can also be found on the surfaces of plants and animals. Pseudomonas bacteria are found in nature in a biofilm or in planktonic form. Pseudomonas bacteria are renowned for their metabolic versatility as they can grow under a variety of growth conditions and do not need any organic growth factors. This species includes many plant pathogens of important crops, which makes it a model organism in plant pathology. Its natural environment is on the surface of plant leaves and it can withstand various stressful conditions, like rain, wind, UV radiation and drought. It can colonize plants in a non-pathogenic state and can rapidly take advantage of changing environmental conditions to induce disease in susceptible plants by shifting gene expression patterns.