Identification and Pathogenicity Analysis of Qf-1 in Mink ().

Mink () 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 Qf-1. Under laboratory conditions, Qf-1 induced typical pneumonia symptoms in Kunming mice. Furthermore, whole-genome sequencing of Qf-1 revealed its genome to be 4.77 Mb and to contain a single chromosome and one plasmid. The main virulence genes of Qf-1 were primarily associated with , and , 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.