Genome Sequencing of the Antibiotic-Resistant Leucobacter sp. HNU-1 and Its Developmental Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans

To date, <i>Leucobacter</i> species have been identified from diverse sources with various ecological and functional roles. However, the genomic features and pathogenic potential of antibiotic-resistant <i>Leucobacter</i> strains remain understudied. Here, we isolated the <i>Leucobacter</i> sp. HNU-1 from tropical Hainan Province, China, and found it can induce diapause in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> following ingestion, while exhibiting no significant effects on the nematode's lifespan, survival rate, locomotion, and intestinal epithelial cells. This bacterium demonstrates resistance to multiple antibiotics, including kanamycin, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and vancomycin. On LB medium, <i>Leucobacter</i> sp. HNU-1 forms yellow, opaque colonies with a smooth, moist surface, regular edges, a convex center, and no surrounding halo, with diameters ranging from 2 to 3 mm. Furthermore, we performed whole-genome sequencing using third-generation high-throughput sequencing technology. De novo assembly revealed a genome size of 3,375,033 bp, with a GC content of 70.37%. A total of 3270 functional genes, accounting for 88.98% of the genome, were annotated, along with six potential CRISPR sequences and other genetic elements. Genomic and bioinformatic analyses further identified antibiotics-related genes. This research provides a theoretical foundation for investigating antibiotic-resistant environmental bacteria in tropical environments and offers new insights into potential therapeutic strategies for microbial infections and host-microbe interactions.