PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL STRAINS OF VIBRIO THAT PRODUCE AEROBACTIN

Bacteria that produce siderophore were isolated from the coastal marin e environment of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The siderophores were ide ntified as a hydroxamate-type siderophore, aerobactin. The production of aerobactin was induced in the iron-limited conditions, and inductio n of outer membrane protein, which was assumed to be the aerobactin re ceptor, was observed simultaneously. These bacteria were phylogenetica lly identified as Vibrio species on the basis of 16S ribosomal DNA seq uencing. These bacteria were closely related to Vibrio orientalis, Vib rio splendidus, Vibrio nereis, and Vibrio tubiashi. Vibrio species are known to be found in aquatic habitats with a wide range of salinities and comprise the dominant component of the culturable marine microbia l community. It appears Vibrio species that produce aerobactin exist e xtensively on the coastal marine environment.