Massilia (bacterium)

All Massilia species were reclassified in 2023 into one of the following genera: Duganella, Pseudoduganella, Janthinobacterium, Telluria, Rugamonas, Mokoshia, or Zemynaea.

[5] However, 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic trees in 2023 determined that many Massilia species actually belong within the Telluria genus, which was validly published first, having nomenclatural priority.

Massilia are a diverse group that reside in many different environments, have many heterotrophic means of gathering energy, and are commonly found in association with plants.

Originally, the Massilia genus existed within a polyphyletic group of the Oxalobacteriaceae, alongside other genera including Duganella, Pseudoduganella, Janthinobacterium, Telluria, and Rugamonas.

[7] In 2023, it was discovered that the type species of the genus, Telluria mixta, had nomenclatural priority over the name "Massilia", having been validly published first.

[7][6] Massilia are proficient at surface colonization, including the seed coat, emerging radicles, roots, and even the hyphae of Pythium.

[9] Massilia have been isolated from other, sometimes extreme, environments as well, including the Sahara Desert,[10] freshwater,[6] glaciers, rocks, and air samples.

are able to degrade cellulose[13] or chitin,[14] two naturally occurring carbohydrate polymers, using cellulase and endochitinase enzymes, respectively.

WF1 was able to degrade the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon phenanthrene, each when alone and when in co-culture with the fungal species Phanerochaete chrysosporium.