Genomic analysis of the antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and genetic diversity of global strains of Aeromonas isolated from humans and foods

• Grant number: 25/01937-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Pfrimer Falcão
• Grantee: Laura Toniolo Dias
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Waterborne and foodborne diseases represent a severe public health concern. Bacteria of the genus Aeromonas are widely distributed in environmental sources, and are pathogenic to a range of animals. In humans, they are considered emerging pathogens, causing gastrointestinal and skin infections. Despite their medical importance, aspects of the prevalence and epidemiology of Aeromonas infections, pathogenicity, antimicrobial resistance, and genetic diversity are poorly understood due to problems with laboratory identification, monitoring, and underreporting. Therefore, whole-genome sequencing based analyses could allow a better understanding and characterization of various Aeromonas species that cause infections in humans and are present in foods on a global scale. The aim of this project is to characterize, through genomic analyses, aspects of antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and genetic diversity of global Aeromonas strains isolated from humans and foods. For this purpose, 230 publicly available genomes of A. dhakensis (n=48), A. hydrophila (n=53), A. salmonicida (n=14), and A. veronii (n=115) will be studied from strains isolated between 1983 and 2024 in 20 countries across five continents. These genomes will be examined for antimicrobial resistance, stress, and virulence genes, plasmids, and prophages. Genomic diversity will be assessed through analyses of Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), whole-genome MLST, fragmented genomes, and Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism clusters. The results to be obtained are expected to reveal novel aspects of the virulence, resistance, and diversity of Aeromonas species circulating between humans and foods worldwide, providing data for a better understanding of infections caused by these public health relevant pathogens.