title: Francisella halioticida sp. nov., a pathogen of farmed giant abalone (Haliotis gigantea) in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 2005, a Francisella sp. was isolated from diseased cultured giant abalone (Haliotis gigantea) in Japan. The aim of this study was to clarify the taxonomic status of this Francisella sp. Shimane-1 isolate in relation to the four described Francisella species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 16S rRNA gene and several housekeeping genes of the Shimane-1 were compared to isolates of the four recognized species within the Francisella genus. DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) and biochemical profile comparison were performed with the two phylogenetically closely related species, Francisella philomiragia and Francisella noatunensis. Results show that the Shimane-1 is genetically different from all described Francisella species and differs phenotypically from F. philomiragia and F. noatunensis. The average DDH similarity of Francisella sp. Shimane-1 to F. noatunensis ssp. noatunensis (NCIMB14265(T)) and to F. philomiragia (DSM7535(T)) was 49·2 and 61%, respectably, clearly supporting the establishment of Shimane-1 as a new species within the Francisella genus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The phenotypic and genetic results presented in this study suggest the establishment of Shimane-1 as a novel species, for which the name Francisella halioticida sp. nov. (=LMG26062(T), =DSM23729(T)) is proposed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study clarifies the taxonomic position and characteristics of a novel mollusc pathogenic Francisella species.
authors: Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. oyvind.brevik@bio.uib.no
authors: O J
authors: OJ
authors: Brevik
authors: K F
authors: KF
authors: Ottem
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Kamaishi
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Watanabe
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Nylund
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001482:Base Composition; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005603:Francisella / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000382:microbiology*; D007564:Japan; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S