Aeromonas in South Asia: genomic insights into an environmental pathogen and reservoir of antimicrobial resistance

This study presents a comprehensive genomic analysis of the Aeromonas bacterial genus, using 1,853 genomes—including 996 newly sequenced from Bangladesh and India—to explore diversity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across clinical and environmental sources in South Asia. Researchers found Aeromonas to be highly diverse with 28 species and over 900 novel sequence types, and importantly, AMR genes were widespread across both environmental and clinical isolates, including genes conferring resistance to frontline and last-line antibiotics. The work also highlights frequent misidentification of Aeromonas as Vibrio cholerae in regions where both are endemic, underscoring Aeromonas as both an environmental reservoir of AMR and an emerging multi-species pathogen with potential human health implications.