Comparative Genomics Revealed a Potential Threat of Aeromonas Rivipollensis G87 Strain and Its Antibiotic Resistance

is an emerging pathogen linked to a broad range of infections in humans. Due to the inability to accurately differentiate species using conventional techniques, in-depth comparative genomics analysis is imperative to identify them. This study characterized 4 strains that were isolated from river water in Johannesburg, South Africa, by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). WGS was carried out, and taxonomic classification was employed to profile virulence and antibiotic resistance (AR). The AR profiles of the genomes consisted of betalactams and cephalosporin-resistance genes, while the tetracycline-resistance gene () was only determined to be in the G87 strain. A mobile genetic element (MGE), transposons , was determined to be in this strain that mediates tetracycline resistance MFS efflux . A pangenomic investigation revealed the G87 strain's unique characteristic, which included immunoglobulin A-binding proteins, extracellular polysialic acid, and exogenous sialic acid as virulence factors. The identified polysialic acid and sialic acid genes can be associated with antiphagocytic and antibactericidal properties, respectively. MGEs such as transposases introduce virulence and AR genes in the G87 genome. This study showed that is generally resistant to a class of beta-lactams and cephalosporins. MGEs pose a challenge in some of the species strains and are subjected to antibiotics resistance and the acquisition of virulence genes in the ecosystem.