Geographic containment and virulence-resistance trade-offs drive the evolution of hypervirulent <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>.

ABSTRACT: The emergence of hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvCRKP) represents an alarming convergence of enhanced virulence and extensive drug resistance. Here, we present a comprehensive genomic analysis of 2563 clonal complex 23 (CC23) isolates from 62 countries spanning 1932-2024. Our findings reveal that CC23-K1, the dominant hypervirulent sublineage, emerged approximately 170 years ago and diversified into seven major clades with distinct regional dominance. We observe that carbapenem resistance in CC23-K1 exhibits notable instability, with at least 130 independent acquisitions and 20 losses of resistance genes, suggesting an evolutionary trade-off between hypervirulence and antimicrobial resistance. Experimental validation demonstrates that capsule production p

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12528002 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature