Shewanella loihica
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Shewanella loihica
Classification
Higher order taxa
Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Gammaproteobacteria; Alteromonadales; Shewanellaceae; Shewanella; Shewanella loihica
Species
Shewanella loihica
Description and significance
PV-4T marine bacterial strain of Shewanella loihica was isolated at the deep-sea, hydrothermal Naha Vent from iron-rich microbial mats on the South Rift of Loihi Seamount, Hawaii, in the Pacific Ocean. It is noted as orange, rodlike, gram-negative, motile through use of polar flagella, anaerobic, and psychrotolerant at temperatures between 0-42 degrees C.
Genome structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?
The loihica genome is recorded at having 4602594 nucleotides, 3859 protein genes, and 124 RNA genes. PV-4(T) exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity levels of 99.6% to Shewanella aquimarina, 97.5 % to S. marisflavi, 50.5 % to S. aquimarina and 8.5 % to S. marisflavi.
Cell structure and metabolism
Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Ecology
Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.
Pathology
How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
Application to Biotechnology
They are capable of using a variety of compounds as electron acceptors, including oxygen, iron, manganese, uranium, nitrate, nitrite, fumarate, to name a few. This ability makes Shewanella important for bioremediation of contaminated metals and radioactive wastes.
Current Research
Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required
References
Edited by Niru Sivakumar, a student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano