Query: NC_017512:2087098 Neisseria meningitidis WUE 2594, complete genome
Lineage: Neisseria meningitidis; Neisseria; Neisseriaceae; Neisseriales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: The second of two pathogenic Neisseria, this organism causes septicemia and is the leading cause of life-threatening meningitis (inflammation of the meninges, the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord) in children. This organism typically residies in the nasopharynx cavity but can invade the respiratory epthelial barrier, cross into the bloodstream and the blood brain barrier, and cause inflammation of the meninges. Pathogenicity factors include the surface proteins (porins and opacity proteins), and the type IV pilus (which is also found in Neisseria gonorrhoeae). This organism, like Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is naturally competent, and protein complexes at the cell surface recognize the uptake signal sequence in extracellular DNA, an 8mer that is found at high frequency in Neisseria chromosomal DNA.
Subject: NC_009480:2932108 Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis NCPPB 382, complete
Lineage: Clavibacter michiganensis; Clavibacter; Microbacteriaceae; Actinomycetales; Actinobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Phytopathogen that causes bacterial wilt and canker of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). This is considered to be the most important bacterial disease of tomato causing substantial economic losses worldwide. Bacteria enter the plant by wounds on root or stem and then find their way into the xylem allowing a massive systemic colonization. The first stage of the disease is characterized by unilateral wilting of leaves. Wilting then spreads to all leaves, canker lesions develop on the stem and the plant dies. If infection occurs at a late stage of plant development, plants can survive and yield fruit that may have spots, so called bird's eyes. Often the seeds will be infected and this has been the major source for outbreaks of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis infections in agriculture. Members of the Clavibacter genus are known to produce antimicrobial compounds.