Phylogenetic analysis of marine environmental strains of Vibrio that produce aerobactin

Bacteria that produce siderophone were isolated from the coastal marine environment of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The siderophores were identified as a hyoxamate-type siderophore, aerobactin. The production of aerobactin was induced in the iron-limited conditions, and induction of outer membrane protein, which was assumed to be the aerobactin receptor, was observed simultaneously. These bacteria were phylogenetically identified as Vibrio species on the basis of 16S ribsomal DNA sequencing. These bacteria were closely related to Vibrio orientalis, Vibrio 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 dominaint component of the culturable marine microbial community. It appears Vibrio species that produce aerobactin exist extensively on the coatal marine environment.