Query: NC_015760:8914 Streptococcus salivarius CCHSS3, complete genome
Lineage: Streptococcus salivarius; Streptococcus; Streptococcaceae; Lactobacillales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: The commensal bacterium Streptococcus salivarius is predominant specie of the human oropharyngeal tract and exerts an important role in oral ecology. Streptococcus salivarius is an aerobic, gram-positive coccus. This organism is the most common organism isolated from the human oral cavity. Streptococcus salivarius can also be an opportunistic pathogen causing endocarditis, blood infection, and peritonitis. 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.
Subject: NC_003305:1297785 Agrobacterium tumefaciens str. C58 chromosome linear, complete
Lineage: Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Agrobacterium; Rhizobiaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Gram-negative soil bacterium. This is the most widely studied species in the genus. Strains of Agrobacterium are classified in three biovars based on their utilisation of different carbohydrates and other biochemical tests. The differences between biovars are determined by genes on the single circle of chromosomal DNA. Biovar differences are not particularly relevant to the pathogenicity of A. tumefaciens, except in one respect: biovar 3 is found worldwide as the pathogen of gravevines. This species causes crown gall disease of a wide range of dicotyledonous (broad-leaved) plants, especially members of the rose family such as apple, pear, peach, cherry, almond, raspberry and roses. Because of the way that it infects other organisms, this bacterium has been used as a tool in plant breeding. Any desired genes, such as insecticidal toxin genes or herbicide-resistance genes, can be engineered into the bacterial DNA, and then inserted into the plant genome. This process shortens the conventional plant breeding process, and allows entirely new (non-plant) genes to be engineered into crops.