Shewanella submarina sp. nov., a gammaproteobacterium isolated from marine water

Shewanella maritima sp. nov., a facultative anaerobic marine bacterium isolated from seawater, and emended description of Shewanella intestini

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, facultative anaerobic rod-shaped marine bacterium, designated strain D4-2^T, was isolated from a sample of seawater collected at Dong-do marina, Dokdo Island, in the East Sea of the Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain D4-2^T was affiliated with members of genus Shewanella and closely related to Shewanella intestini XMDDZSB0408^T (97.4%), followed by Shewanella gelidii RZB5-4^T (96.7 %) and Shewanella inventionis KX27^T (96.1 %). D4-2^T has a single circular chromosome of 4.72 Mbp with a DNA G+C content of 44.5 mol%. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) values between strain D4-2^T and the previously mentioned type strains of species of the genus Shewanella were in range of 69-83.8 % and 20.5-21.7 %, respectively. Growth was observed at 10-36 °C (optimum 29-32 °C), at pH 6-9 (optimum pH 7), and with 1-6% NaCl (optimum 2%). The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) of D4-2^T were iso-C_15:0 and summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7c and/or C_16:1ω6c). The respiratory quinones were Q-7, Q-8, MK-7 and MMK-7. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminophospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid and four unidentified lipids were detected in D4-2^T. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular properties, D4-2^T represents a novel species of the genus Shewanella, for which the name Shewanella maritima sp. nov. is proposed with D4-2^T as the type strain (=KCTC 72040^T=JCM 33294^T).

Multilocus Sequence Analysis, a Rapid and Accurate Tool for Taxonomic Classification, Evolutionary Relationship Determination, and Population Biology Studies of the Genus Shewanella

The genus Shewanella comprises a group of marine-dwelling species with worldwide distribution. Several species are regarded as causative agents of food spoilage and opportunistic pathogens of human diseases. In this study, a standard multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on six protein-coding genes (gyrA, gyrB, infB, recN, rpoA, and topA) was established as a rapid and accurate identification tool in 59 Shewanella type strains. This method yielded sufficient resolving power in regard to enough informative sites, adequate sequence divergences, and distinct interspecies branches. The stability of phylogenetic topology was supported by high bootstrap values and concordance with different methods. The reliability of the MLSA scheme was further validated by identical phylogenies and high correlations of genomes. The MLSA approach provided a robust system to exhibit evolutionary relationships in the Shewanella genus. The split network tree proposed twelve distinct monophyletic clades with identical G+C contents and high genetic similarities. A total of 86 tested strains were investigated to explore the population biology of the Shewanella genus in China. The most prevalent Shewanella species was Shewanella algae, followed by Shewanella xiamenensis, Shewanella chilikensis, Shewanella indica, Shewanella seohaensis, and Shewanella carassii The strains frequently isolated from clinical and food samples highlighted the importance of increasing the surveillance of Shewanella species. Based on the combined genetic, genomic, and phenotypic analyses, Shewanella upenei should be considered a synonym of S. algae, and Shewanella pacifica should be reclassified as a synonym of Shewanella japonica IMPORTANCE The MLSA scheme based on six housekeeping genes (HKGs) (gyrA, gyrB, infB, recN, rpoA, and topA) is well established as a reliable tool for taxonomic, evolutionary, and population diversity analyses of the genus Shewanella in this study. The standard MLSA method allows researchers to make rapid, economical, and precise identification of Shewanella strains. The robust phylogenetic network of MLSA provides profound insight into the evolutionary structure of the genus Shewanella The population genetics of Shewanella species determined by the MLSA approach plays a pivotal role in clinical diagnosis and routine monitoring. Further studies on remaining species and genomic analysis will enhance a more comprehensive understanding of the microbial systematics, phylogenetic relationships, and ecological status of the genus Shewanella.