Draft genomic sequence of a chromate- and sulfate-reducing Alishewanella strain with the ability to bioremediate Cr and Cd contamination

Alishewanella sp. WH16-1 (= CCTCC M201507) is a facultative anaerobic, motile, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from soil of a copper and iron mine. This strain efficiently reduces chromate (Cr(6+)) to the much less toxic Cr(3+). In addition, it reduces sulfate (SO4 (2-)) to S(2-). The S(2-) could react with Cd(2+) to generate precipitated CdS. Thus, strain WH16-1 shows a great potential to bioremediate Cr and Cd contaimination. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the draft genome and comparative genomic results among strain WH16-1 and other Alishewanella strains. The genome comprises 3,488,867 bp, 50.4 % G + C content, 3,132 protein-coding genes and 80 RNA genes. Both putative chromate- and sulfate-reducing genes are identified.