Resistome Characterization of Enterococcus spp. Isolated from Channel Catfish Skin in U.S. Aquaculture

This project investigates antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Enterococcus spp. isolated from the skin microbiota of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) in aquaculture ponds in the Southeastern United States. Whole-genome sequencing was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform at the Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory (EARL), Tuskegee University. The study characterizes resistance phenotypes and genotypes, including aminoglycoside- and macrolide-resistance genes, plasmid replicons, and biofilm-associated virulence factors. These findings contribute to understanding the role of aquaculture environments as reservoirs of AMR bacteria and support the use of Enterococcus spp. as sentinel organisms in One Health-based environmental AMR surveillance.