RECENT ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF THE TAXONOMY, PATHOGENICITY, AND INFECTIOUS SYNDROMES ASSOCIATED WITH THE GENUS AEROMONAS

Over the past decade, the emergence of Aeromonas species as bona fide human pathogens and their probable role as etiologic agents of bacterial gastroenteritis have resulted in an explosion of scientific interest in the genus. Major accomplishments occurring in this field during that interval include a more refined taxonomy, identification of new cell-associated factors (surface layers, pili), and the molecular analysis of selected extracellular gene products that may play a critical role in pathogenesis (hemolysins, enterotoxins). This review provides an updated overview of recent systematic, clinical, and pathophysiologic advances and defines key areas of medical and scientific interest in which major questions remain unanswered.