Evolutionary Origins and Virulence Determinants of ST25 Hypervirulent <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Swine: Genomic Insights and Functional Validation.

ABSTRACT: The global spread of multidrug-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-HvKp), among which carbapenem-resistant strains are of major concern, poses a severe threat to public health due to its high mortality rate and extremely limited treatment options. While human-derived HvKp strains are well-studied, animal-origin variants remain poorly characterized. Here, we isolated a HvKp strain KPB from a swine farm in China, exhibiting high mortality and extreme virulence (LD₅₀ = 20 CFU). Phylogenomic analysis of 342 K. pneumoniae genomes revealed that the swine-derived KPB (sequence type 25 [ST25] lineage) clusters closely with clinical isolates, suggesting zoonotic transmission risks. Targeted mutagenesis identified wcaJ/wzc-mediated capsule synthesis as

SUBMITTER: Chen Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12820796 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature