Genomic Characterization of <i>Aeromonas veronii</i> Provides Insights into Taxonomic Assignment and Reveals Widespread Virulence and Resistance Genes throughout the World
José Cleves da Silva Maia,
Gabriel Amorim de Albuquerque Silva,
Letícia Stheffany de Barros Cunha,
Gisele Veneroni Gouveia,
Aristóteles Góes-Neto,
Bertram Brenig,
Fabrício Almeida Araújo,
Flávia Aburjaile,
Rommel Thiago Jucá Ramos,
Siomar Castro Soares,
Vasco Ariston de Carvalho Azevedo,
Mateus Matiuzzi da Costa,
João José de Simoni Gouveia
Affiliations
José Cleves da Silva Maia
Graduate Program in Animal Science, Agricultural Sciences Campus, Federal University of Vale of São Francisco (Univasf), Petrolina 56304-917, Pernambuco, Brazil
Gabriel Amorim de Albuquerque Silva
Center for Open Access Genomic Analysis (CALAnGO), Federal University of Vale of São Francisco (Univasf), Petrolina 56304-917, Pernambuco, Brazil
Letícia Stheffany de Barros Cunha
Graduate Program in Animal Science, Agricultural Sciences Campus, Federal University of Vale of São Francisco (Univasf), Petrolina 56304-917, Pernambuco, Brazil
Gisele Veneroni Gouveia
Center for Open Access Genomic Analysis (CALAnGO), Federal University of Vale of São Francisco (Univasf), Petrolina 56304-917, Pernambuco, Brazil
Aristóteles Góes-Neto
Laboratory of Molecular Computational Biology of Fungi (LBMCF), Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Bertram Brenig
Institute of Veterinary Medicine, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Niedersachsen, Germany
Fabrício Almeida Araújo
Biological Engineering Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66075-110, Pará, Brazil
Flávia Aburjaile
Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Rommel Thiago Jucá Ramos
Biological Engineering Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66075-110, Pará, Brazil
Siomar Castro Soares
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Vasco Ariston de Carvalho Azevedo
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics (LGCM), Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Mateus Matiuzzi da Costa
Center for Open Access Genomic Analysis (CALAnGO), Federal University of Vale of São Francisco (Univasf), Petrolina 56304-917, Pernambuco, Brazil
João José de Simoni Gouveia
Center for Open Access Genomic Analysis (CALAnGO), Federal University of Vale of São Francisco (Univasf), Petrolina 56304-917, Pernambuco, Brazil
Aeromonas veronii is a Gram-negative bacterial species that causes disease in fish and is nowadays increasingly recurrent in enteric infections of humans. This study was performed to characterize newly sequenced isolates by comparing them with complete genomes deposited at the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information). Nine isolates from fish, environments, and humans from the São Francisco Valley (Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil) were sequenced and compared with complete genomes available in public databases to gain insight into taxonomic assignment and to better understand virulence and resistance profiles of this species within the One Health context. One local genome and four NCBI genomes were misidentified as A. veronii. A total of 239 virulence genes were identified in the local genomes, with most encoding adhesion, motility, and secretion systems. In total, 60 genes involved with resistance to 22 classes of antibiotics were identified in the genomes, including mcr-7 and cphA. The results suggest that the use of methods such as ANI is essential to avoid misclassification of the genomes. The virulence content of A. veronii from local isolates is similar to those complete genomes deposited at the NCBI. Genes encoding colistin resistance are widespread in the species, requiring greater attention for surveillance systems.
