Shimwellia blattae
Shimwellia blattae (formerly Escherichia blattae) is a species of bacterium, one of two in the genus Shimwellia. It is an aerobic enteric bacterium first isolated from the hindgut of cockroaches. Although it is related to human pathogens, including Escherichia coli, S. blattae is not pathogenic to humans.[2] It is notable for its ability to synthesize vitamin B12 de novo.[3]
| Shimwellia blattae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
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| Species: | Shimwellia blattae |
| Binomial name | |
| Shimwellia blattae (Burgess et al. 1973) Priest and Barker 2010, comb. nov.[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
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Escherichia blattae Burgess 1973 | |
History and taxonomy
The bacterium was first described in 1973 under the name Escherichia blattae after isolation from the hindgut of the cockroach species Blatta orientalis.[4] It was reclassified in the genus Shimwellia based on phylogenetic analyses of its genome sequence.[5]
Genome
The genome of S. blattae is about 4.2 megabases in size, slightly smaller than similar enteric bacteria found in humans. It has 56.5% GC content, significantly higher than E. coli. Genomic analysis suggests that the ability of S. blattae to synthesize vitamin B12 has its origins in horizontal gene transfer.[2]
References
- "Shimwellia". List of prokaryotic names with standing in nomenclature. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- Brzuszkiewicz, E.; Waschkowitz, T.; Wiezer, A.; Daniel, R. (27 July 2012). "Complete Genome Sequence of the B12-Producing Shimwellia blattae Strain DSM 4481, Isolated from a Cockroach". Journal of Bacteriology. 194 (16): 4436–4436. doi:10.1128/JB.00829-12. PMC 3416266. PMID 22843577.
- Andres, Sönke; Wiezer, Arnim; Bendfeldt, Hanna; Waschkowitz, Tanja; Toeche-Mittler, Caroline; Daniel, Rolf (2004). "Insights into the Genome of the Enteric Bacterium Escherichia blattae: Cobalamin (B12) Biosynthesis, B12-Dependent Reactions, and Inactivation of the Gene Region Encoding B12-Dependent Glycerol Dehydratase by a New Mu-Like Prophage". Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology. 8 (3): 150–168. doi:10.1159/000085788.
- Burgess, N. R. H.; McDermott, S. N.; Whiting, J. (March 1973). "Aerobic bacteria occurring in the hind-gut of the cockroach, Blatta orientalis". Journal of Hygiene. 71 (01): 1–8. doi:10.1017/S0022172400046155. PMC 2130441. PMID 4571611.
- Priest, F. G.; Barker, M. (6 August 2009). "Gram-negative bacteria associated with brewery yeasts: reclassification of Obesumbacterium proteus biogroup 2 as Shimwellia pseudoproteus gen. nov., sp. nov., and transfer of Escherichia blattae to Shimwellia blattae comb. nov". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 60 (4): 828–833. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.013458-0.