Colistin resistance mutations in phoQ can sensitize Klebsiella pneumoniae to IgM-mediated complement killing.

ABSTRACT: Due to multi-drug resistance, physicians increasingly use the last-resort antibiotic colistin to treat infections with the Gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae. Unfortunately, K. pneumoniae can also develop colistin resistance. Interestingly, colistin resistance has dual effects on bacterial clearance by the immune system. While it increases resistance to antimicrobial peptides, colistin resistance has been reported to sensitize certain bacteria for killing by human serum. Here we investigate the mechanisms underlying this increased serum sensitivity, focusing on human complement which kills Gram-negatives via membrane attack complex (MAC) pores. Using in vitro evolved colistin resistant strains and a fluorescent MAC-mediated permeabilization assay, we showed that two of the three

SUBMITTER: van der Lans SPA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10400624 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature