Publication details
Psychrotolerant Erwinia psychrophila sp. nov. and Erwinia magellanica sp. nov. Isolated from Penguin Faeces
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00284-025-04670-8 |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-025-04670-8 |
| Keywords | Magellanic penguin; Erwinia; Psychrotolerant; Taxonomy; Description |
| Attached files | |
| Description | Our taxonomic study was aimed at characterizing enteric bacteria isolated from faecal samples of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) collected in Cabo Virgenes, Patagonia, Argentina, in 2016 and 2017. Initial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene assigned two psychrotolerant strains, P6884(T) and P7711(T), to the genus Erwinia. The closest phylogenetic relatives of the strains were Erwinia billingiae and Erwinia endophytica type strains, with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values between 98.4% and 98.9%. Whole-genome sequence analysis revealed that the strains analyzed could not be assigned to any validly named Erwinia species based on ANI and dDDH similarity values. Moreover, the ANI and dDDH similarities between the strains P6884(T) and P7711(T) genomes analyzed were 79.4% and 22.6%, respectively, indicating that they are distinct taxa. Further analysis using phenotyping and chemotaxonomy showed that the strains represent two newly discovered species of the genus Erwinia. The type strains P6884(T) (= CCM 9357(T) = LMG 33570(T)) representing Erwinia psychrophila sp. nov., and P7711(T) (= CCM 9358(T) = LMG 33569(T)) representing Erwinia magellanica sp. nov., were deposited in the Czech Collection of Microorganisms and BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection. Erwinia species are typically associated with plants, fruits, and vegetables, and some species are important phytopathogens responsible for diseases in several economically important crops. The isolation of Erwinia species from penguin droppings shows that the microflora of penguin droppings, which can alter soil geochemistry in rookeries, may indicate yet unknown interactions within the Patagonian environment. |
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