RNA chaperone hfq mediates persistence to multiple antibiotics in Aeromonas veronii.

Pathogenic Aeromonas veronii results in great healthy and economic losses in fishes and human. The multiple drug tolerance of bacterial persister is the major cause for recurrent infections. Ubiquitous RNA-binding protein Hfq is liable for antibiotic tolerance and persisiter production. We showed that the hfq deletion in A. veronii retarded the growth, reduced the tolerances to diverse antibiotics, and lowered the persistence. Such effects might be mediated by the downregulations of RelE, CspD, ClpB, RpoS, OxyR, and upregulation of OppB. Our study supports the role of Hfq in persister formation and provides clues for the avoidance of recalcitrant infections.