Shewanella amazonensis SB2B

Shewanella are facultatively anaerobic, Gram-negative bacteria, motile by polar flagella, rod-like, and generally associated with aquatic or marine environments. They are capable of using a variety of compounds as electron acceptors, including oxygen, iron, manganese, uranium, nitrate, nitrite, fumarate, to name but a few. This ability makes Shewanella important for bioremediation of contaminated metals and radioactive wastes. The genus Shewanella comprises 36 recognized and hundreds of uncharacterized cultivable species. Strain SB2BT was isolated from Amazonian shelf coastal muds, in intertidal sediments, off the Amapa coast of Brazil, and is a highly active reducer of iron and manganese oxides, thiosulfate and elemental sulfur. Cells are rod-shaped, 2-3 um in length and 0.4-0.7 um in diameter, Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, polarly flagellated. No endospores nor capsules are formed. Cells are able to grow at mesophilic temperatures, with optimal growth observed at 37 C. Denitrifies nitrate to nitrite and nitrite to N2. Exhibits cytochrome oxidase, catalase and gelatinase activity, and produces hydrogen sulfide from thiosulfate. Haemolyses sheep blood cells and does not grow at NaCl concentrations above 3%. Utilizes acetate, succinate, fumarate and citrate as sole carbon sources as well as a few carbohydrates and amino acids. Very active in the reduction of iron, manganese and sulfur compounds. (HAMAP: SHEAM)