Query: NC_017514:1491235 Neisseria meningitidis M01-240149 chromosome, 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_007705:3429493 Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae MAFF 311018, complete genome
Lineage: Xanthomonas oryzae; Xanthomonas; Xanthomonadaceae; Xanthomonadales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This plant pathogen affects rice plants by causing leaf blight, a major problem in Asian countries where rice production occurs on an industrial scale. This pathogen enters the xylem and spreads throughout the vascular tissue of the plant, which results in wilting of the plant, or to leaf blight if the infection occurs later in development. Causes disease in rice. This genus consists of plant-specific yellow-pigmented microbes, some of which are economically important phytopathogens that devastate crops such as citrus plants, rice, beans, grape, and cotton. These organisms are almost exclusively found associated with their plant hosts and are not found free in the soil. Xanthomonas oryzae contains two pathovars which cause enconomically significant diseases in rice. Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzicola causes bacterial streak. This disease is common in tropical area and can cause crop losses of up to 32%. Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae causes bacterial leaf blight which is one of the most serious diseases of rice. This disease is common in temperate and tropical areas and can cause significant crop loss.