Aeromonas_from_GEMS_study

Aeromonas is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria typically found in aquatic environments. It has been associated with gastroenteritis, bacteremia and necrotising fasciitis in humans. The GEMS study screened for Aeromonas in children with moderate-to-severe diarrhoea (MSD) and found a significant attributable fraction of cases in Bangladesh and Pakistan. We have previously sequenced 150 case and control samples from children aged 24-59 months from the Karachi, Pakistan GEMS site. We found that the Aeromonas isolates were very diverse and belonged to six different species. We profiled the pan-genome and identified antibiotic resistance genes. We now wish to sequence 325 additional samples from the Karachi, Pakistan hospital from children aged 0-23 months. This will allow us to have a more complete picture of all of the isolates from a specific site over a four year period in terms of species and genetic diversity. We hope the additional samples will also provide the required power to perform GWAS studies to identify virulence determinants.