Identification and Pathogenicity Analysis of <i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1 in Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>)

Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>) is a commercially farmed animal of global importance. However, disease outbreaks during farming not only cause significant economic losses but also substantially increase the risk of zoonotic infections. The identification and characterization of pathogenic ba...

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Main Authors: Yao Chen, Haotian Cai, Xiaoyang Wu, Xibao Wang, Yongquan Shang, Qinguo Wei, Weilai Sha, Yan Qi, Shuli Liu, Honghai Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1604
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author Yao Chen
Haotian Cai
Xiaoyang Wu
Xibao Wang
Yongquan Shang
Qinguo Wei
Weilai Sha
Yan Qi
Shuli Liu
Honghai Zhang
author_facet Yao Chen
Haotian Cai
Xiaoyang Wu
Xibao Wang
Yongquan Shang
Qinguo Wei
Weilai Sha
Yan Qi
Shuli Liu
Honghai Zhang
author_sort Yao Chen
collection DOAJ
description Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>) is a commercially farmed animal of global importance. However, disease outbreaks during farming not only cause significant economic losses but also substantially increase the risk of zoonotic infections. The identification and characterization of pathogenic bacteria remain a major bottleneck restricting the development of healthy and sustainable mink farming. In this study, an LB medium was used to isolate a pale-white, rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacterial strain, Qf-1, from minks with pneumonia. Based on morphological characteristics, biochemical properties, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis, strain Qf-1 was identified as <i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1. Under laboratory conditions, <i>H. chinensis</i> Qf-1 induced typical pneumonia symptoms in Kunming mice. Furthermore, whole-genome sequencing of <i>H. chinensis</i> Qf-1 revealed its genome to be 4.77 Mb and to contain a single chromosome and one plasmid. The main virulence genes of <i>H. chinensis</i> Qf-1 were primarily associated with <i>flgB, flgC, flgG, aceA, hemL, tssC1, csgD, hofB, ppdD, hcpA</i>, and <i>vgrGA</i>, functioning in motility, biofilm formation, colonization ability, and secretion systems. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of their pathogenic mechanisms, thereby laying a theoretical foundation for further investigation into the complex interactions between gut microbiota and the host.
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spelling doaj-art-fbf338741b5b4c33bdb0717c35abdb0b2025-08-20T02:47:22ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-07-01137160410.3390/microorganisms13071604Identification and Pathogenicity Analysis of <i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1 in Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>)Yao Chen0Haotian Cai1Xiaoyang Wu2Xibao Wang3Yongquan Shang4Qinguo Wei5Weilai Sha6Yan Qi7Shuli Liu8Honghai Zhang9College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, ChinaZhonghuan Shengda Environmental Technology Group (Qingyun) Co., Ltd., Dezhou 253000, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, ChinaMink (<i>Neogale vison</i>) is a commercially farmed animal of global importance. However, disease outbreaks during farming not only cause significant economic losses but also substantially increase the risk of zoonotic infections. The identification and characterization of pathogenic bacteria remain a major bottleneck restricting the development of healthy and sustainable mink farming. In this study, an LB medium was used to isolate a pale-white, rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacterial strain, Qf-1, from minks with pneumonia. Based on morphological characteristics, biochemical properties, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis, strain Qf-1 was identified as <i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1. Under laboratory conditions, <i>H. chinensis</i> Qf-1 induced typical pneumonia symptoms in Kunming mice. Furthermore, whole-genome sequencing of <i>H. chinensis</i> Qf-1 revealed its genome to be 4.77 Mb and to contain a single chromosome and one plasmid. The main virulence genes of <i>H. chinensis</i> Qf-1 were primarily associated with <i>flgB, flgC, flgG, aceA, hemL, tssC1, csgD, hofB, ppdD, hcpA</i>, and <i>vgrGA</i>, functioning in motility, biofilm formation, colonization ability, and secretion systems. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of their pathogenic mechanisms, thereby laying a theoretical foundation for further investigation into the complex interactions between gut microbiota and the host.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1604<i>Neogale vison</i><i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1culturomicsgenomepathogenicity
spellingShingle Yao Chen
Haotian Cai
Xiaoyang Wu
Xibao Wang
Yongquan Shang
Qinguo Wei
Weilai Sha
Yan Qi
Shuli Liu
Honghai Zhang
Identification and Pathogenicity Analysis of <i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1 in Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>)
Microorganisms
<i>Neogale vison</i>
<i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1
culturomics
genome
pathogenicity
title Identification and Pathogenicity Analysis of <i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1 in Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>)
title_full Identification and Pathogenicity Analysis of <i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1 in Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>)
title_fullStr Identification and Pathogenicity Analysis of <i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1 in Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>)
title_full_unstemmed Identification and Pathogenicity Analysis of <i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1 in Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>)
title_short Identification and Pathogenicity Analysis of <i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1 in Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>)
title_sort identification and pathogenicity analysis of i huaxiibacter chinensis i qf 1 in mink i neogale vison i
topic <i>Neogale vison</i>
<i>Huaxiibacter chinensis</i> Qf-1
culturomics
genome
pathogenicity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1604
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