Molecular Epidemiology of Hypervirulent Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the overall distributions of key virulence genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae, especially the hypervirulent bla _KPC-positive K. pneumoniae (Hv-bla _KPC(+)-KP).

Methods

A total of 521 complete genomes of K. pneumoniae from GenBank were collected and analyzed. Multilocus sequence typing, molecular serotyping, antibiotic-resistance, virulence genes and plasmid replicon typing were investigated.

Results

Positive rates of virulence genes highly varied, ranging from 2.9 (c-rmpA/A2) to 99.6% (entB). Totally 207 strains presented positive fimH, mrkD, entB and wzi and 190 showed positive fimH, mrkD, entB, irp2 and wzi, which were the two primary modes. A total of 94, 165 and 29 strains were denoted as hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (HvKP), bla _KPC(+)-KP and Hv-bla _KPC(+)-KP. ST11 accounted for 17 among the 29 Hv-bla _KPC(+)-KP strains; Genes iucA, p-rmpA2 and p-rmpA were positive in 28, 26 and 18 Hv-bla _KPC(+)-KP strains respectively. Among the 29 Hv-bla _KPC(+)-KP strains exhibiting four super clusters from GenBank, IncHI1B plasmids carrying virulence genes and IncFII ones with bla _KPC were responsible for both 23 strains respectively.

Conclusions

Positive rates of virulence genes vary remarkably in K. pneumoniae. Genes iucA, p-rmpA2 and p-rmpA were primary ones inducing Hv-bla _KPC(+)-KP. IncHI1B plasmids carrying virulence genes and IncFII ones with bla _KPC constitute the primary combination responsible for Hv-bla _KPC(+)-KP. The making of Hv-bla _KPC(+)-KP is mostly via bla _KPC(+)-KP acquiring another plasmid harboring virulence genes.

SUBMITTER: Hu D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8058458 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature