title: Identification of tetrodotoxin-producing bacteria from goby Yongeichthys criniger.
abstract: Toxic goby fish (Yongeichthys criniger) containing tetrodotoxin (TTX), from Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, China, were screened for TTX-producing bacteria. Two toxic bacterial strains were isolated from the liver of Y. criniger and respectively denoted XC3-3 and XL-1. TTX production by the strains was confirmed by mouse bioassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis, strain XC3-3 was identified as Enterobacter cloaca and XL-1 was closely related to Rahnella aquatilis. These findings show for the first time that TTX-producing bacteria are symbiotic bacteria in goby and suggest that bacterial strains are at least partially responsible for TTX accumulation in Y. criniger.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China.
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China.
authors.forename: Tinglong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China. Electronic address: blbao@shou.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Baolong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016972:Enterobacter cloacae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005399:Fishes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D010802:Phylogeny; D020638:Rahnella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013559:Symbiosis; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D013779:Tetrodotoxin
keywords: Enterobacter cloaca; Goby; Rahnella aquatilis; TTX-producing bacteria; Tetrodotoxin; Yongeichthys criniger