Query: NC_016024:156000 Candidatus Chloracidobacterium thermophilum B chromosome chromosome
Lineage: Chloracidobacterium thermophilum; Chloracidobacterium; Acidobacteriaceae; ; Acidobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This organism produces bacteriochlorophyll a and c under oxic conditions and represents a new group of photosynthetic bacteria. The only known chlorophototroph in the phylum Acidobacteria. Aerobic photoheterotroph that lacks the ability to synthesize several essential nutrients. Naturally inhabits microbial mats of alkaline siliceous hot springs in Yellowstone National Park.
Subject: NC_008710:621822 Borrelia turicatae 91E135, complete genome
Lineage: Borrelia turicatae; Borrelia; Spirochaetaceae; Spirochaetales; Spirochaetes; Bacteria
General Information: This strain was isolated in the USA from the soft tick Ornithodoros turicatae. Borrelia turicatae is the causative agent of tick-borne relapsing fever in the southwestern USA. Ticks become infected with Borrelia while feeding on an infected mammal, usually a rodent or squirrel. Borrelia then multiplies rapidly, causing a generalized infection throughout the tick. While feeding, the tick passes the spirochete into a mammalian host through its infectious saliva. Relapsing fever is characterized by period of chills, fever, headache, and malaise, followed by an asymptomatic, followed by another episode of symptoms. The cycle of relapsing is due to changes in the surface proteins of Borrelia, which allow it to avoid detection and removal by the host immune system. This antigenic variation is the result of homologous recombination of silent proteins into an expressed locus, causing partial or complete replacement of one serotype with another. These plasmids carry genes involved in antigenic variation and pathogenicity.