Closed Genome Sequence of Aeromonas veronii Strain Hm21, an Isolate from the Medicinal Leech Hirudo verbana

This genome announcement reports a closed 4.71-Mbp genome (plus a 56-kb plasmid) for Aeromonas veronii strain Hm21, isolated from the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana and used for genetic studies, and identifies mutations in strains commonly used for genetic engineering. This is directly relevant to hirudotherapy safety: Aeromonas is the well-known gut symbiont of medicinal leeches and the principal source of post-leech-therapy wound infections, so a high-quality reference genome supports understanding and surveillance of this clinically important organism. The caveat is that this is a brief genomic resource announcement, not a clinical or infection-outcome study; it provides a sequencing tool and identifies engineering-strain mutations but reports no patient data, infection rates, or treatment implications.