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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #435865
Research Project: Umbrella Project for Food Safety

Location: Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit

Title: Draft genome sequence of an antimicrobial-resistant Acinetobacter sp. strain isolated from a catfish raised in a commercial farm

Author
item UGOH, ULUNNA - Mississippi State University
item HALL, ETHAN - Mississippi State University
item GORDON, KENISHA - Mississippi State University
item JOSHI, HIMANI - Mississippi State University
item WHITE, SHECOYA - Mississippi State University
item HSU, CHUAN-YU - Mississippi State University
item FAN, PEIXIN - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Microbiology Resource Announcements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/16/2025
Publication Date: 11/4/2025
Citation: Ugoh, U., Hall, E., Gordon, K., Joshi, H., White, S., Hsu, C., Fan, P. 2025. Draft genome sequence of an antimicrobial-resistant Acinetobacter sp. strain isolated from a catfish raised in a commercial farm. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 14(12). https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00995-25.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00995-25

Interpretive Summary: To protect public health and improve fish farming, this study looked at a specific type of bacteria (Acinetobacter strain PFS20) found inside a farm-raised catfish. By mapping the bacteria's entire DNA, researchers discovered it can survive a common antibiotic called cefotaxime. It manages this by using six specialized defense mechanisms, including "efflux pumps" that actively pump medicines out of the bacteria before they can work, and biological delivery systems that help it cause infections. This genetic map shows a clear link between food farming and hard-to-treat bacteria, creating a potential risk for humans, as the software predicts an 84.8% chance that this bacteria could make people sick. Funded by the USDA-ARS, this research gives vital information to fish farmers, veterinarians, and food safety inspectors. Ultimately, these groups will use the data to track down where antibiotic resistance hides, design better farm safety rules, and improve how medicines are used on fish farms to keep our food supply safe. This research supports the Secretary of Agriculture’s priorities of increasing profitability of farmers and creating new uses of U. S. agricultural products.

Technical Abstract: Acinetobacter sp. PFS20 was isolated from the intestine of a farm-raised catfish. The strain exhibits resistance to cefotaxime and carries six resistance genes: OXA-1003, ADC-135, adeF, AbaQ, AmvA, and abeS. Genomic analysis predicts its pathogenic potential to humans and reveals genes encoding type I, II, and VI secretion systems.