Pedagogical forms of mobile learning: framing research questions

Abstract

<i>Aeromonas veronii</i> is a Gram-negative bacterium ubiquitously found in aquatic environments. It is a foodborne pathogen that causes diarrhea in humans and hemorrhagic septicemia in fish. In the present study, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to evaluate the presence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence genes found in <i>A. veronii</i> Ah5S-24 isolated from catfish pond sediments in South-East, United States. We found <i>cphA4</i>, <i>dfrA3</i>, <i>mcr-7.1</i>, <i>valF</i>, <i>bla</i> _FOX-7, and <i>bla</i> _OXA-12 resistance genes encoded in the chromosome of <i>A. veronii</i> Ah5S-24. We also found the tetracycline <i>tet(E)</i> and <i>tetR</i> genes placed next to the IS<i>5/</i>IS<i>1182</i> transposase, integrase, and hypothetical proteins that formed as a genetic structure or transposon designated as IS<i>5/</i>IS<i>1182/hp/tet(E)/tetR/hp</i>. BLAST analysis showed that a similar mobile gene cassette (MGC) existed in chromosomes of other bacteria species such as <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> isolated from retail fish at markets, <i>Aeromonas caviae</i> from human stool and <i>Aeromonas media</i> from a sewage bioreactor. In addition, the IS<i>5/</i>IS<i>1182/hp/tet(E)/tetR/hp</i> cassette was also found in the plasmid of <i>Vibrio alginolyticus</i> isolated from shrimp. As for virulence genes, we found the tap type IV pili (<i>tapA</i> and <i>tapY</i>), polar flagellae (<i>flgA</i> and <i>flgN</i>), lateral flagellae (<i>ifgA</i> and <i>IfgL</i>), and fimbriae (<i>pefC</i> and <i>pefD</i>) genes responsible for motility and adherence. We also found the hemolysin genes (<i>hylII</i>, <i>hylA,</i> and <i>TSH</i>), <i>aerA</i> toxin, biofilm formation, and quorum sensing (<i>LuxS</i>, <i>mshA,</i> and <i>mshQ</i>) genes. However, there were no MGCs encoding virulence genes found in <i>A. veronii</i> AhS5-24. Thus, our findings show that MGCs could play a vital role in the spread of AMR genes between chromosomes and plasmids among bacteria in aquatic environments. Overall, our findings are suggesting that MGCs encoding AMR genes could play a vital role in the spread of resistance acquired from high usage of antimicrobials in aquaculture to animals and humans.