Adaptive evolution of virulence and persistence in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

ABSTRACT: Among the most urgent public health threats is the worldwide emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae^1-4, which are resistant to the antibiotic class of 'last resort'. In the United States and Europe, carbapenem-resistant strains of the Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 (ref. ⁵) sequence type are dominant, endemic^6-8 and associated with high mortality^6,9,10. We report the global evolution of pathogenicity in carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae, resulting in the repeated convergence of virulence and carbapenem resistance in the United States and Europe, dating back to as early as 2009. We demonstrate that K. pneumoniae can enhance its pathogenicity by adopting two opposing infection programs through easily acquired gain- and loss-of-function

SUBMITTER: Ernst CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9194776 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature