CRISPR-Cas Dynamics in Carbapenem-Resistant and Carbapenem-Susceptible <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> Clinical Isolates from a Croatian Tertiary Hospital.

ABSTRACT: (1) Background: CRISPR-Cas systems provide adaptive immunity against mobile genetic elements (MGEs) carrying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. Carbapenem-resistant (CR) Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major public health concern, and the role of CRISPR-Cas in its resistance is understudied. This study explored CRISPR-Cas associations with multidrug resistance in clinical K. pneumoniae. (2) Methods: 400 K. pneumoniae isolates (200 CR and 200 carbapenem susceptible (CS)) were analyzed. Carbapenemase genes (bla_OXA-48, bla_NDM-1, bla_KPC-2), cas1, rpoB, and CRISPR1-3 loci were identified by PCR, while only CRISPR loci were sequenced. Genetic relatedness was assessed via PFGE, MLST, and spacer analysis. Statis

SUBMITTER: Juric I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12195874 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature