Aeromonas Hydrophila

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Gammaproteobacteria; Aeromonadales; Aeromonadaceae; Aeromonas

Species

Aeromonas hydrophila subsp. decolorationis Aeromonas hydrophila subsp. dhakensis Aeromonas hydrophila subsp. hydrophila

Description and Significance

Aeromonas hydrophila is a species of gram-negative bacteria. These organisms are oxidase-positive and anaerobic. Aeromonas hydrophila is a member of the family Aeromonadaceae, and is only one of six species Aeromonas species that are known to be pathogenic in humans. It is also pathogenic in fish.

Genome Structure

Some of the genes in Aeromonas hydrophila contribute to its toxicity. The cytotoxic enterotoxin gene (act), a single-chain polypeptide, is one of the primary genes that makes this species pathogenic. Heat-labile cytotonic enterotoxins (Alt), a heat-stable cytotonic enterotoxins (Ast) also have genes that contribute to toxicity. These are labeled alt and ast, respectively. Albert et. al. (2000) noted that three distinct genes code for these enterotoxins: act, alt and ast.