1
|
Goh KJ, Altuvia Y, Argaman L, Raz Y, Bar A, Lithgow T, Margalit H, Gan YH. RIL-seq reveals extensive involvement of small RNAs in virulence and capsule regulation in hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:9119-9138. [PMID: 38804271 PMCID: PMC11347178 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) can infect healthy individuals, in contrast to classical strains that commonly cause nosocomial infections. The recent convergence of hypervirulence with carbapenem-resistance in K. pneumoniae can potentially create 'superbugs' that are challenging to treat. Understanding virulence regulation of hvKp is thus critical. Accumulating evidence suggest that posttranscriptional regulation by small RNAs (sRNAs) plays a role in bacterial virulence, but it has hardly been studied in K. pneumoniae. We applied RIL-seq to a prototypical clinical isolate of hvKp to unravel the Hfq-dependent RNA-RNA interaction (RRI) network. The RRI network is dominated by sRNAs, including predicted novel sRNAs, three of which we validated experimentally. We constructed a stringent subnetwork composed of RRIs that involve at least one hvKp virulence-associated gene and identified the capsule gene loci as a hub target where multiple sRNAs interact. We found that the sRNA OmrB suppressed both capsule production and hypermucoviscosity when overexpressed. Furthermore, OmrB base-pairs within kvrA coding region and partially suppresses translation of the capsule regulator KvrA. This agrees with current understanding of capsule as a major virulence and fitness factor. It emphasizes the intricate regulatory control of bacterial phenotypes by sRNAs, particularly of genes critical to bacterial physiology and virulence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kwok Jian Goh
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117545, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yael Altuvia
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Liron Argaman
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Yair Raz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Amir Bar
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Trevor Lithgow
- Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hanah Margalit
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Yunn-Hwen Gan
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117545, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen L, Xiang H, Yang H, Zhang J, Huang B, Tan Z, Wang Y, Ma H. Inhibition of porcine origin Klebsiella pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide and immune escape by BY3 compounded traditional Chinese medicine residue fermentation broth. Microb Pathog 2024; 195:106853. [PMID: 39147214 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) is a gram-negative conditionally pathogenic bacterium that causes disease primarily in immunocompromised individuals. Recently, highly virulent K. pneumoniae strains have caused severe disease in healthy individuals, posing significant challenges to global infection control. Capsular polysaccharide (CPS), a major virulence determinant of K. pneumoniae, protects the bacteria from being killed by the host immune system, suggesting an urgent need for the development of drugs to prevent or treat K. pneumoniae infections. In this study, BY3 compounded traditional Chinese medicine residue (TCMR) was carried out using Lactobacillus rhamnosus as a fermentation strain, and BY3 compounded TCMR fermentation broth (BY3 fermentation broth) was obtained. The transcription of K. pneumoniae CPS-related biosynthesis genes after treatment with BY3 fermentation broth was detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The effects of BY3 fermentation broth on K. pneumoniae serum killing, macrophage phagocytosis, complement deposition and human β-defensin transcription were investigated. The therapeutic effect of BY3 fermentation broth on K. pneumoniae-infected mice was also observed, and the major active components of BY3 fermentation broth were analysed via LC‒MS analysis, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. The results showed that BY3 fermentation broth inhibited K. pneumoniae CPS production and downregulated transcription of CPS-related biosynthesis genes, which weakened bacterial resistance to serum killing and phagocytosis, while promoting bacterial surface complement C3 deposition and human β-defensin expression. BY3 fermentation broth demonstrated safety and therapeutic effects in vivo and in vitro, restoring body weight and visceral indices, significantly reducing the organ bacterial load and serum cytokine levels, and alleviating pathological organ damage in mice. In addition, three natural compounds-oleanolic acid, quercetin, and palmitoleic acid-were identified as the major active components in the BY3 fermentation broth. Therefore, BY3 fermentation broth may be a promising strategy for the prevention or treatment of K. pneumoniae infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China; The Key Laboratory of New Veterinary Drug Research and Development of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China
| | - Hua Xiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China; The Key Laboratory of New Veterinary Drug Research and Development of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Jilin Province Wanbang Goose Technical Service Company, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Jiabin Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China
| | - Bowen Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China; The Key Laboratory of New Veterinary Drug Research and Development of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China
| | - Zining Tan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China; The Key Laboratory of New Veterinary Drug Research and Development of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China
| | - Yiming Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China; The Key Laboratory of New Veterinary Drug Research and Development of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China.
| | - Hongxia Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China; The Engineering Research Center of Bioreactor and Drug Development, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Teng G, Zhang M, Fu Y, Yang X, Kang Y, Qin Q, Jin Y, Huang M, Xu Y. Adaptive attenuation of virulence in hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. mSystems 2024; 9:e0136323. [PMID: 38752758 PMCID: PMC11237801 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01363-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of nosocomial infections caused by hypervirulent and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (hv-CRKP) has become a significant public health challenge. The genetic traits of virulence and resistance plasmids in hv-CRKP have been extensively studied; however, research on the adaptive evolution strategies of clinical strains inside the host was scarce. This study aimed to understand the effects of antibiotic treatment on the phenotype and genotype characteristics of hv-CRKP. We investigated the evolution of hv-CRKP strains isolated from the same patient to elucidate the transition between hospital invasion and colonization. A comparative genomics analysis was performed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms in the rmpA promoter. Subsequent validation through RNA-seq and gene deletion confirmed that distinct rmpA promoter sequences exert control over the mucoid phenotype. Additionally, biofilm experiments, cell adhesion assays, and animal infection models were conducted to illuminate the influence of rmpA promoter diversity on virulence changes. We demonstrated that the P12T and P11T promoters of rmpA possess strong activity, which leads to the evolution of CRKP into infectious and virulent strains. Meanwhile, the specific sequence of polyT motifs in the rmpA promoter led to a decrease in the lethality of hv-CRKP and enhanced cell adhesion and colonization. To summarize, the rmpA promoter of hv-CRKP is utilized to control capsule production, thereby modifying pathogenicity to better suit the host's ecological environment.IMPORTANCEThe prevalence of hospital-acquired illness caused by hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (hv-CRKP) is significant, leading to prolonged antibiotic treatment. However, there are few reports on the phenotypic changes of hv-CRKP in patients undergoing antibiotic treatment. We performed a comprehensive examination of the genetic evolutionary traits of hv-CRKP obtained from the same patient and observed variations in the promoter sequences of the virulence factor rmpA. The strong activity of the promoter sequences P11T and P12T enhances the consistent production of capsule polysaccharides, resulting in an invasive strain. Conversely, weak promoter activity of P9T and P10T is advantageous for exposing pili, hence improving bacterial cell attachment ability and facilitating bacterial colonization. This finding also explains the confusion of some clinical strains carrying wild-type rmpA but exhibiting a low mucoid phenotype. This adaptive alteration facilitates the dissemination of K. pneumoniae within the hospital setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaoqin Teng
- Department of Immunology and Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Multiple Organ Failure, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, China
- Department of General Intensive Care Unit of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - YingYing Fu
- Department of Immunology and Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Yang
- Department of Immunology and Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanhua Kang
- Department of Immunology and Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiuying Qin
- Department of Immunology and Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ye Jin
- Key Laboratory of Multiple Organ Failure, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, China
- Department of General Intensive Care Unit of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Man Huang
- Key Laboratory of Multiple Organ Failure, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, China
- Department of General Intensive Care Unit of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yongchang Xu
- Department of Immunology and Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lemos TJDS, Silva HGDS, Previato JO, Mendonça-Previato L, Freitas EOD, Barbosa AS, Franzolin MR, Santos LFD, Melo BDS, Anjos GFD, Gonçalves RHN, Domingos MDO. O26 Polysaccharides as Key Players in Enteropathogenic E. coli Immune Evasion and Vaccine Development. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2878. [PMID: 38474124 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) produce a capsule of polysaccharides identical to those composing the O-antigen polysaccharide of its LPS (lipopolysaccharide) molecules. In light of this, the impact of O26 polysaccharides on the immune evasion mechanisms of capsulated O26 EPEC compared to non-capsulated enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) was investigated. Our findings reveal that there was no significant difference between the levels in EPEC and EHEC of rhamnose (2.8:2.5), a molecule considered to be a PAMP (Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns). However, the levels of glucose (10:1.69), heptose (3.6:0.89) and N-acetylglucosamine (4.5:2.10), were significantly higher in EPEC than EHEC, respectively. It was also observed that the presence of a capsule in EPEC inhibited the deposition of C3b on the bacterial surface and protected the pathogen against lysis by the complement system. In addition, the presence of a capsule also protected EPEC against phagocytosis by macrophages. However, the immune evasion provided by the capsule was overcome in the presence of anti-O26 polysaccharide antibodies, and additionally, these antibodies were able to inhibit O26 EPEC adhesion to human epithelial cells. Finally, the results indicate that O26 polysaccharides can generate an effective humoral immune response, making them promising antigens for the development of a vaccine against capsulated O26 E. coli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - José Osvaldo Previato
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, UFRJ, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Lucia Mendonça-Previato
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, UFRJ, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Elisangela Oliveira de Freitas
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, UFRJ, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Angela Silva Barbosa
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brasil, 1500, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcia Regina Franzolin
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brasil, 1500, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Luis Fernando Dos Santos
- Centro de Bacteriologia, Núcleo de Doenças Entéricas, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 355, São Paulo 01246-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruna de Sousa Melo
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brasil, 1500, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Geovana Ferreira Dos Anjos
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brasil, 1500, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Marta de Oliveira Domingos
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brasil, 1500, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bjånes E, Koh T, Qayum T, Zurich R, McCabe S, Hampel K, Cartwright L, Nizet V. Exploring Roles of the Polysaccharide Capsule in Pathogenesis of Hypervirulent Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Isolate Lac-4. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 13:10. [PMID: 38275320 PMCID: PMC10812722 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The frequently multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii is a leading cause of nosocomial infections, including ventilator-associated pneumonia, such that the World Health Organization and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have declared it a top priority candidate for novel drug development. Nearly all clinical A. baumannii strains express a thick surface polysaccharide capsule that protects against desiccation, host defenses, and disinfectants. In this study, we investigated the contribution of the polysaccharide capsule to virulence caused by the A. baumannii clinical isolate Ab Lac-4, which is rare in its ability to cause pneumonia and disseminated sepsis in healthy mice. We assessed the role of the capsule in wildtype Lac-4 (WT) by generating a premature stop codon in wza, which codes for the polysaccharide export protein. The wza# mutant was hypersensitive to killing by complement, whole blood, and healthy human neutrophils compared to WT and a revertant mutant (wza-Rev). Furthermore, the wza# mutant was highly attenuated in murine sepsis and unable to disseminate from the lungs during pneumonia. This study reinforces the capsule as a key contributor to Ab Lac-4 hypervirulence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Bjånes
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (T.K.); (T.Q.); (R.Z.); (S.M.); (K.H.); (L.C.)
| | - Truman Koh
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (T.K.); (T.Q.); (R.Z.); (S.M.); (K.H.); (L.C.)
| | - Tariq Qayum
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (T.K.); (T.Q.); (R.Z.); (S.M.); (K.H.); (L.C.)
| | - Raymond Zurich
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (T.K.); (T.Q.); (R.Z.); (S.M.); (K.H.); (L.C.)
| | - Sinead McCabe
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (T.K.); (T.Q.); (R.Z.); (S.M.); (K.H.); (L.C.)
| | - Kegan Hampel
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (T.K.); (T.Q.); (R.Z.); (S.M.); (K.H.); (L.C.)
| | - Lisa Cartwright
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (T.K.); (T.Q.); (R.Z.); (S.M.); (K.H.); (L.C.)
| | - Victor Nizet
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (T.K.); (T.Q.); (R.Z.); (S.M.); (K.H.); (L.C.)
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chu WHW, Tan YH, Tan SY, Chen Y, Yong M, Lye DC, Kalimuddin S, Archuleta S, Gan YH. Acquisition of regulator on virulence plasmid of hypervirulent Klebsiella allows bacterial lifestyle switch in response to iron. mBio 2023; 14:e0129723. [PMID: 37530523 PMCID: PMC10470599 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01297-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae causes liver abscess and potentially devastating metastatic complications. The majority of Klebsiella-induced liver abscess are caused by the CG23-I sublineage of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae. This and some other lineages possess a >200-kb virulence plasmid. We discovered a novel protein IroP nestled in the virulence plasmid-encoded salmochelin operon that cross-regulates and suppresses the promoter activity of chromosomal type 3 fimbriae (T3F) gene transcription. IroP is itself repressed by iron through the ferric uptake regulator. Iron-rich conditions increase T3F and suppress capsule mucoviscosity, leading to biofilm formation and cell adhesion. Conversely, iron-poor conditions cause a transcriptional switch to hypermucoid capsule production and T3F repression. The likely acquisition of iroP on mobile genetic elements and successful adaptive integration into the genetic circuitry of a major lineage of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae reveal a powerful example of plasmid chromosomal cross talk that confers an evolutionary advantage. Our discovery also addresses the conundrum of how the hypermucoid capsule that impedes adhesion could be regulated to facilitate biofilm formation and colonization. The acquired ability of the bacteria to alternate between a state favoring dissemination and one that favors colonization in response to iron availability through transcriptional regulation offers novel insights into the evolutionary success of this pathogen. IMPORTANCE Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae contributes to the majority of monomicrobial-induced liver abscess infections that can lead to several other metastatic complications. The large virulence plasmid is highly stable in major lineages, suggesting that it provides survival benefits. We discovered a protein IroP encoded on the virulence plasmid that suppresses expression of the type 3 fimbriae. IroP itself is regulated by iron, and we showed that iron regulates hypermucoid capsule production while inversely regulating type 3 fimbriae expression through IroP. The acquisition and integration of this inverse transcriptional switch between fimbriae and capsule mucoviscosity shows an evolved sophisticated plasmid-chromosomal cross talk that changes the behavior of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae in response to a key nutrient that could contribute to the evolutionary success of this pathogen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wilson H. W. Chu
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yi Han Tan
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Si Yin Tan
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yahua Chen
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Melvin Yong
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David C. Lye
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore
- Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shirin Kalimuddin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Program in Emerging Infectious Disease, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sophia Archuleta
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yunn-Hwen Gan
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fan Z, Fu T, Liu H, Li Z, Du B, Cui X, Zhang R, Feng Y, Zhao H, Xue G, Cui J, Yan C, Gan L, Feng J, Xu Z, Yu Z, Tian Z, Ding Z, Chen J, Chen Y, Yuan J. Glucose Induces Resistance to Polymyxins in High-Alcohol-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae via Increasing Capsular Polysaccharide and Maintaining Intracellular ATP. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0003123. [PMID: 37338347 PMCID: PMC10434286 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00031-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
High-alcohol-producing K. pneumoniae (HiAlc Kpn) causes nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by producing excess endogenous alcohol in the gut of patients with NAFLD, using glucose as the main carbon source. The role of glucose in the response of HiAlc Kpn to environmental stresses such as antibiotics remains unclear. In this study, we found that glucose could enhance the resistance of HiAlc Kpn to polymyxins. First, glucose inhibited the expression of crp in HiAlc Kpn and promoted the increase of capsular polysaccharide (CPS), which promoted the drug resistance of HiAlc Kpn. Second, glucose maintained high ATP levels in HiAlc Kpn cells under the pressure of polymyxins, enhancing the resistance of the cells to the killing effect of antibiotics. Notably, the inhibition of CPS formation and the decrease of intracellular ATP levels could both effectively reverse glucose-induced polymyxins resistance. Our work demonstrated the mechanism by which glucose induces polymyxins resistance in HiAlc Kpn, thereby laying the foundation for developing effective treatments for NAFLD caused by HiAlc Kpn. IMPORTANCE HiAlc Kpn can use glucose to produce excess endogenous alcohol for promoting the development of NAFLD. Polymyxins are the last line of antibiotics and are commonly used to treat infections caused by carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae. In this study, we found that glucose increased bacterial resistance to polymyxins via increasing CPS and maintaining intracellular ATP; this increases the risk of failure to treat NAFLD caused by multidrug-resistant HiAlc Kpn infection. Further research revealed the important roles of glucose and the global regulator, CRP, in bacterial resistance and found that inhibiting CPS formation and decreasing intracellular ATP levels could effectively reverse glucose-induced polymyxins resistance. Our work reveals that glucose and the regulatory factor CRP can affect the resistance of bacteria to polymyxins, laying a foundation for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Fan
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Tongtong Fu
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Hongbo Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhoufei Li
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Du
- University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaohu Cui
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yanling Feng
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Hanqing Zhao
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Guanhua Xue
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Jinghua Cui
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Yan
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Gan
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Junxia Feng
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Ziying Xu
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Zihui Yu
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Ziyan Tian
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Zanbo Ding
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Jinfeng Chen
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Yujie Chen
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
First Report of Potentially Pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae from Serotype K2 in Mollusk Tegillarca granosa and Genetic Diversity of Klebsiella pneumoniae in 14 Species of Edible Aquatic Animals. Foods 2022; 11:foods11244058. [PMID: 36553800 PMCID: PMC9778296 DOI: 10.3390/foods11244058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae can cause serious pneumonitis in humans. The bacterium is also the common causative agent of hospital-acquired multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections. Here we for the first time reported the genetic diversity of K. pneumoniae strains in 14 species of edible aquatic animals sampled in the summer of 2018 and 2019 in Shanghai, China. Virulence-related genes were present in the K. pneumoniae strains (n = 94), including the entB (98.9%), mrkD (85.1%), fimH (50.0%), and ybtA (14.9%) strains. Resistance to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim was the most prevalent (52.1%), followed by chloramphenicol (31.9%), and tetracycline (27.7%), among the strains, wherein 34.0% had MDR phenotypes. Meanwhile, most strains were tolerant to heavy metals Cu2+ (96.8%), Cr3+ (96.8%), Zn2+ (91.5%), Pb2+ (89.4%), and Hg2+ (81.9%). Remarkably, a higher abundance of the bacterium was found in bottom-dwelling aquatic animals, among which mollusk Tegillarca granosa contained K. pneumoniae 8-2-5-4 isolate from serotype K2 (ST-2026). Genome features of the potentially pathogenic isolate were characterized. The enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR)−based genome fingerprinting classified the 94 K. pneumoniae strains into 76 ERIC genotypes with 63 singletons, demonstrating considerable genetic diversity in the strains. The findings of this study fill the gap in the risk assessment of K. pneumoniae in edible aquatic animals.
Collapse
|
9
|
Lin TH, Wu CC, Tseng CY, Fang JH, Lin CT. Effects of gallic acid on capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis in Klebsiella pneumoniae. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2022; 55:1255-1262. [PMID: 34326026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Klebsiella pneumoniae is a gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that causes diseases mostly in immunocompromised individuals. Recently, hypervirulent K. pneumoniae strains also cause severe disease in healthy individuals. Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) is the major virulence determinant in hypervirulent K. pneumoniae and protects the cell against the bactericidal activity of the immune system. Gallic acid (GA), a natural phenolic compound, is known to exhibit wide spectrum antibacterial activity; however, its effect on hypervirulent K. pneumoniae remains largely unresolved. We aimed to identify the effects of GA on CPS biosynthesis in hypervirulent K. pneumoniae. METHODS Antibacterial activity of GA was evaluated by counting colonies. CPS amount was determined by glucuronic acid content. The transcriptions of cps gene cluster were measured by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) and the β-galactosidase activity. The effect of GA on the resistance of K. pneumoniae to streptonigrin (SNG), an iron-activated antibiotic, was evaluated. The effect of GA on the resistance of K. pneumoniae to serum killing and phagocytosis by macrophages was observed. RESULTS GA inhibited the growth and CPS biosynthesis in K. pneumoniae. GA may affect the iron availability in K. pneumoniae, thus possibly repressing the cps transcription. In addition, GA reduced the resistance of K. pneumoniae to serum killing and enhanced its susceptibility to phagocytosis. CONCLUSION GA possesses bactericidal activity and inhibits the CPS biosynthesis in hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, thereby facilitating pathogen clearance by the host immune system. Therefore, GA may represent a promising strategy for the prevention or treatment of patients with hypervirulent K. pneumoniae infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tien-Huang Lin
- Division of Urology, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan; Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
| | - Chien-Chen Wu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Yin Tseng
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Section of Infectious Disease, Hsinchu Mackay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
| | - Jing-Han Fang
- School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Ching-Ting Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Identification of the BolA Protein Reveals a Novel Virulence Factor in K. pneumoniae That Contributes to Survival in Host. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0037822. [PMID: 36121239 PMCID: PMC9603091 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00378-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BolA has been characterized as an important transcriptional regulator, which is induced in the stationary phase of growth and is often associated with bacterial virulence. This study was initiated to elucidate the role of the BolA in the virulence of K. pneumoniae. Using a mouse infection model, we revealed bolA mutant strain yielded significantly decreased bacterial loads in the liver, spleen, lung, and kidney, and failed to form liver abscesses. Gene deletion demonstrated that the bolA was required for siderophore production, biofilm formation, and adhesion to human colon cancer epithelial cells HCT116. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR) indicated that BolA could impact the expression of pulK, pulF, pulE, clpV, vgrG, entE, relA, and spoT genes on a genome-wide scale, which are related to type II secretion system (T2SS), type VI secretion system (T6SS), guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp), and siderophore synthesis and contribute to fitness in the host. Furthermore, the metabolome analysis showed that the deletion of the bolA gene led to decreased pools of five metabolites: biotin, spermine, cadaverine, guanosine, and flavin adenine dinucleotide, all of which are involved in pathways related to virulence and stress resistance. Taken together, we provided evidence that BolA was a significant virulence factor in the ability of K. pneumoniae to survive, and this was an important step in progress to an understanding of the pathways underlying bacterial virulence. IMPORTANCE BolA has been characterized as an important transcriptional regulator, which is induced in the stationary phase of growth and affects different pathways directly associated with bacterial virulence. Here, we unraveled the role of BolA in several phenotypes associated with the process of cell morphology, siderophore production, biofilm formation, cell adhesion, tissue colonization, and liver abscess. We also uncovered the importance of BolA for the success of K. pneumoniae infection and provided new clues to the pathogenesis strategies of this organism. This work constitutes a relevant step toward an understanding of the role of BolA protein as a master regulator and virulence factor. Therefore, this study is of great importance for understanding the pathways underlying K. pneumoniae virulence and may contribute to public health care applications.
Collapse
|
11
|
Coya JM, Fraile-Ágreda V, de Tapia L, García-Fojeda B, Sáenz A, Bengoechea JA, Kronqvist N, Johansson J, Casals C. Cooperative action of SP-A and its trimeric recombinant fragment with polymyxins against Gram-negative respiratory bacteria. Front Immunol 2022; 13:927017. [PMID: 36159837 PMCID: PMC9493720 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.927017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The exploration of therapies combining antimicrobial lung proteins and conventional antibiotics is important due to the growing problem of multidrug-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate whether human SP-A and a recombinant trimeric fragment (rfhSP-A) have cooperative antimicrobial activity with antibiotics against pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. We found that SP-A bound the cationic peptide polymyxin B (PMB) with an apparent dissociation constant (K D) of 0.32 ± 0.04 µM. SP-A showed synergistic microbicidal activity with polymyxin B and E, but not with other antibiotics, against three SP-A-resistant pathogenic bacteria: Klebsiella pneumoniae, non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. SP-A was not able to bind to K. pneumoniae, NTHi, or to mutant strains thereof expressing long-chain lipopolysaccharides (or lipooligosaccharides) and/or polysaccharide capsules. In the presence of PMB, SP-A induced the formation of SP-A/PMB aggregates that enhance PMB-induced bacterial membrane permeabilization. Furthermore, SP-A bound to a molecular derivative of PMB lacking the acyl chain (PMBN) with a K D of 0.26 ± 0.02 μM, forming SP-A/PMBN aggregates. PMBN has no bactericidal activity but can bind to the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Surprisingly, SP-A and PMBN showed synergistic bactericidal activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Unlike native supratrimeric SP-A, the trimeric rfhSP-A fragment had small but significant direct bactericidal activity against K. pneumoniae, NTHi, and P. aeruginosa. rfhSP-A did not bind to PMB under physiological conditions but acted additively with PMB and other antibiotics against these pathogenic bacteria. In summary, our results significantly improve our understanding of the antimicrobial actions of SP-A and its synergistic action with PMB. A peptide based on SP-A may aid the therapeutic use of PMB, a relatively cytotoxic antibiotic that is currently being reintroduced into clinics due to the global problem of antibiotic resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Manuel Coya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Fraile-Ágreda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia de Tapia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén García-Fojeda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandra Sáenz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A. Bengoechea
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Nina Kronqvist
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Cristina Casals
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ma X, Zhang L, Yue C, Liu Y, Li J. The Anti-Virulence Effect of Sub-Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations of Levofloxacin on Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:3513-3522. [PMID: 35813087 PMCID: PMC9270011 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s370273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is best described as a virulent pathogen and generally associated with the hypermucoviscosity phenotype. Increased capsule and aerobactin production are established important hvKp-specific virulence factors. Although hvKp strains have been relatively susceptible to antimicrobials, given the high morbidity and mortality, there is a critical need for alternative strategies for the treatment of hvKp infections. Thus, the anti-virulence therapy has been targeted for the hvKp development of therapeutics. Materials and Methods Four hvKp isolates with hypermucoviscous phenotype were used in our experiments. Mucoviscosity of the capsule can be assessed by low-speed centrifugation of cultures. CPS amount was determined by glucuronic acid content. The capsule thickness was measured under microscope after ink staining. The transcriptions of gene were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The effect of levofloxacin on the resistance of K. pneumoniae to phagocytosis by macrophages and mouse lethality assay was observed. Results Our data revealed that sub-Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (sub-MIC) of LVX reduce mucoviscosity and CPS production of hvKp. Microscopic observations demonstrated that the capsule of hvkp bacteria became thinned after treatment with LVX. qRT-PCR showed decreased transcript levels of rmpA, wzi, magA, iroN and icuA genes. Down-regulation of these virulence genes occurred leading to increased susceptibility to phagocytosis by macrophages. Mouse lethality assay revealed that the wild strain had the LD50 of 103 CFU, while the sub-MIC LVX-treated bacteria had the LD50 of 105 CFU. Conclusion Our data suggested that LVX may serve as a potential anti-virulence agent for refractory infection by hvKp.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuejiao Ma
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chengcheng Yue
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - YanYan Liu
- Institute of Bacterium Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
- Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
- YanYan Liu, Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, Jixi Road no. 218, Hefei, 230022, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-551-62922713, Email
| | - Jiabin Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Bacterium Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
- Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Infectious Disease, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Jiabin Li, Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Jixi Road no. 218, Hefei, 230022, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-551-62922713, Email
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Inosine and D-Mannose Secreted by Drug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Affect Viability of Lung Epithelial Cells. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27092994. [PMID: 35566345 PMCID: PMC9106066 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The antibiotic resistance rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae have been steadily increasing in recent years. Nevertheless, the metabolic features of the drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and its associated benefits for bacterial pathogenicity are far from expounded. This study aims to unravel the unique physiological and metabolic properties specific to drug-resistant K. pneumoniae. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we observed a thicker extracellular mucus layer around a drug-resistant K. pneumonia strain (Kp-R) than a drug-sensitive K. pneumonia strain (Kp-S). Kp-R also produced more capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and biofilm, and appeared to have a significant competitive advantage when co-cultured with Kp-S. Moreover, Kp-R was easier to adhere to and invade A549 epithelial cells than Kp-S but caused less cell-viability damage according to cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) tests. Immunofluorescence revealed that both Kp-R and Kp-S infection destroyed the tight junctions and F-actin of epithelial cells, while the damage caused by Kp-S was more severe than Kp-R. We detected the extracellular metabolites secreted by the two strains with UHPLC-Q-TOF MS to explore the critical secretion products. We identified 16 predominant compounds that were differentially expressed. Among them, inosine increased the viability of epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner, and an A2AR antagonist can abolish such enhancement. D-mannose, which was secreted less in Kp-R, inhibited the viability of A549 cells in the range of low doses. These findings provide potential targets and research strategies for preventing and treating drug-resistant K. pneumoniae infections.
Collapse
|
14
|
Association between Virulence Factors and Antimicrobial Resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates from North Kerala. JOURNAL OF PURE AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.22207/jpam.16.2.06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common bacterial pathogen causes wide range of infections all over the world. The antimicrobial resistance of K. pneumoniae is a global concern and expresses several virulence factors contributing to the pathogenesis. The incidences of bacterial co-infection in viral pneumonia are common. Increased risk of K. pneumoniae co-infection in viral respiratory tract infection should be alerted in COVID-19 pandemic period. The study aims to detect the association between antimicrobial resistance and factors causing pathogenicity of K. pneumoniae. For the current study, 108 K. pneumoniae clinical isolates were included. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines. Virulence factors such as biofilm formation, haemagglutination, haemolysins, hypermucoviscocity, siderophore, amylase, and gelatinase production were determined by phenotypic method. In this study K. pneumoniae showed high level of antimicrobial resistance towards ampicillin (92.59%) followed by amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (67.59%) and cotrimoxazole (47,22%). An important association between biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance was found to be statistically significant for cotrimoxazole (P-value 0.036) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (P-value 0.037). Other virulence factors like hypermucoviscocity, haemagglutination, amylase, and siderophore production were also showed a statistically significant relation (P-value <0.05) with antimicrobial resistance. Further molecular studies are necessary for the identification of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes, for the effective control of drug-resistant bacteria.
Collapse
|
15
|
Tuncer G, Aktas Z, Basaran S, Cagatay A, Eraksoy H. Biofilm formation of panresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Future Microbiol 2022; 17:723-735. [PMID: 35443798 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2021-0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The authors aimed to investigate the biofilm-forming features of panresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (PRKp). Material & methods: The biofilm formations were shown under light microscope and laser scanning confocal microscopy. The optical densities of the wells were measured and classified according to biofilm-forming capacities. Results: The ratio of biofilm-forming K. pneumoniae was established to be 100%. All isolates were found to form high-level biofilms in classification compared with positive and negative controls. No significant difference was detected in the biofilm-forming capacities of K. pneumoniae strains isolated from different sample types. Conclusion: No previous study associated with PRKp isolates was identified in the literature search. There is a need for different approaches characterizing the biofilm-forming features of PRKp.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gulsah Tuncer
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, 34104, Turkey
| | - Zerrin Aktas
- Department of Microbiology & Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, 34104, Turkey
| | - Seniha Basaran
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, 34104, Turkey
| | - Atahan Cagatay
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, 34104, Turkey
| | - Haluk Eraksoy
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, 34104, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kaszowska M, Majkowska-Skrobek G, Markwitz P, Lood C, Jachymek W, Maciejewska A, Lukasiewicz J, Drulis-Kawa Z. The Mutation in wbaP cps Gene Cluster Selected by Phage-Borne Depolymerase Abolishes Capsule Production and Diminishes the Virulence of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11562. [PMID: 34768992 PMCID: PMC8583740 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is considered one of the most critical multidrug-resistant pathogens and urgently requires new therapeutic strategies. Capsular polysaccharides (CPS), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and exopolysaccharides (EPS) are the major virulence factors protecting K. pneumoniae against the immune response and thus may be targeted by phage-based therapeutics such as polysaccharides-degrading enzymes. Since the emergence of resistance to antibacterials is generally considered undesirable, in this study, the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of resistance to the phage-borne CPS-degrading depolymerase and its effect on K. pneumoniae virulence were investigated. The K63 serotype targeting depolymerase (KP36gp50) derived from Klebsiella siphovirus KP36 was used as the selective agent during the treatment of K. pneumoniae 486 biofilm. Genome-driven examination combined with the surface polysaccharide structural analysis of resistant mutant showed the point mutation and frameshift in the wbaP gene located within the cps gene cluster, resulting in the loss of the capsule. The sharp decline in the yield of CPS was accompanied by the production of a larger amount of smooth LPS. The modification of the surface polysaccharide layers did not affect bacterial fitness nor the insensitivity to serum complement; however, it made bacteria more prone to phagocytosis combined with the higher adherence and internalization to human lung epithelial cells. In that context, it was showed that the emerging resistance to the antivirulence agent (phage-borne capsule depolymerase) results in beneficial consequences, i.e., the sensitization to the innate immune response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Kaszowska
- Laboratory of Microbial Immunochemistry and Vaccines, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.K.); (W.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Grazyna Majkowska-Skrobek
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wroclaw, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland; (G.M.-S.); (P.M.)
| | - Pawel Markwitz
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wroclaw, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland; (G.M.-S.); (P.M.)
| | - Cédric Lood
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium;
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wojciech Jachymek
- Laboratory of Microbial Immunochemistry and Vaccines, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.K.); (W.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Anna Maciejewska
- Laboratory of Microbial Immunochemistry and Vaccines, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.K.); (W.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Jolanta Lukasiewicz
- Laboratory of Microbial Immunochemistry and Vaccines, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.K.); (W.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wroclaw, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland; (G.M.-S.); (P.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Xu Q, Yang X, Chan EWC, Chen S. The hypermucoviscosity of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae confers the ability to evade neutrophil-mediated phagocytosis. Virulence 2021; 12:2050-2059. [PMID: 34339346 PMCID: PMC8331041 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1960101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKP), which causes highly fatal infections, is a new threat to human health. In an attempt to investigate the underlying mechanisms of resistance to neutrophil-mediated killing and hence expression of high-level virulence by HvKP, we tested the binding affinity of HvKP strains to various types of human cells. Our data showed that HvKP exhibited weaker binding to both lung epithelial cells, intestinal Caco-2 cells and macrophages when compared to the classic, non-hypervirulent strains (cKP). Consistently, transconjugants that have acquired a rmpA or rmpA2-bearing plasmid were found to exhibit decreased adhesion to various types of human cells, and hence higher survival rate upon exposure to neutrophil cells. We further found that over production of hypermucoviscosity (HMV), but not capsular polysaccharide (CPS), contributed to the reduced binding and phagocytosis. The effect of hypermucoviscosity on enhancing HvKP virulence was further shown in human serum survival assays and animal experiments. Findings in this study therefore confirmed that rmpA/A2-mediated hypermucoviscosity in HvKP plays a key role in the pathogenesis of this organism through conferring the ability to evade neutrophil binding and phagocytosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Xuemei Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Edward Wai Chi Chan
- State Key Lab of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Sheng Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Kotlyarov S, Kotlyarova A. Molecular Mechanisms of Lipid Metabolism Disorders in Infectious Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7634. [PMID: 34299266 PMCID: PMC8308003 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Exacerbations largely determine the character of the progression and prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Exacerbations are connected with changes in the microbiological landscape in the bronchi due to a violation of their immune homeostasis. Many metabolic and immune processes involved in COPD progression are associated with bacterial colonization of the bronchi. The objective of this review is the analysis of the molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolism and immune response disorders in the lungs in COPD exacerbations. The complex role of lipid metabolism disorders in the pathogenesis of some infections is only beginning to be understood, however, there are already fewer and fewer doubts even now about its significance both in the pathogenesis of infectious exacerbations of COPD and in general in the progression of the disease. It is shown that the lipid rafts of the plasma membranes of cells are involved in many processes related to the detection of pathogens, signal transduction, the penetration of pathogens into the cell. Smoking disrupts the normally proceeded processes of lipid metabolism in the lungs, which is a part of the COPD pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Kotlyarov
- Department of Nursing, Ryazan State Medical University, 390026 Ryazan, Russia
| | - Anna Kotlyarova
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Ryazan State Medical University, 390026 Ryazan, Russia;
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Hu Y, Anes J, Devineau S, Fanning S. Klebsiella pneumoniae: Prevalence, Reservoirs, Antimicrobial Resistance, Pathogenicity, and Infection: A Hitherto Unrecognized Zoonotic Bacterium. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2020; 18:63-84. [PMID: 33124929 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2020.2847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is considered an opportunistic pathogen, constituting an ongoing health concern for immunocompromised patients, the elderly, and neonates. Reports on the isolation of K. pneumoniae from other sources are increasing, many of which express multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes. Three phylogroups were identified based on nucleotide differences. Niche environments, including plants, animals, and humans appear to be colonized by different phylogroups, among which KpI (K. pneumoniae) is commonly associated with human infection. Infections with K. pneumoniae can be transmitted through contaminated food or water and can be associated with community-acquired infections or between persons and animals involved in hospital-acquired infections. Increasing reports are describing detections along the food chain, suggesting the possibility exists that this could be a hitherto unexplored reservoir for this opportunistic bacterial pathogen. Expression of MDR phenotypes elaborated by these bacteria is due to the nature of various plasmids carrying antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-encoding genes, and is a challenge to animal, environmental, and human health alike. Raman spectroscopy has the potential to provide for the rapid identification and screening of antimicrobial susceptibility of Klebsiella isolates. Moreover, hypervirulent isolates linked with extraintestinal infections express phenotypes that may support their niche adaptation. In this review, the prevalence, reservoirs, AMR, Raman spectroscopy detection, and pathogenicity of K. pneumoniae are summarized and various extraintestinal infection pathways are further narrated to extend our understanding of its adaptation and survival ability in reservoirs, and associated disease risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Hu
- UCD-Centre for Food Safety, UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, Science Centre South, College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland.,Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China
| | - João Anes
- UCD-Centre for Food Safety, UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, Science Centre South, College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Séamus Fanning
- UCD-Centre for Food Safety, UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, Science Centre South, College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland.,Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China.,Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Huang WC, Liao YJ, Hashimoto M, Chen KF, Chu C, Hsu PC, Wang S, Teng CH. cjrABC-senB hinders survival of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli in the bloodstream through triggering complement-mediated killing. J Biomed Sci 2020; 27:86. [PMID: 32762693 PMCID: PMC7412671 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-020-00677-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) is a common gram-negative organism causing various infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), bacteremia, and neonatal meningitis. The cjrABC-senB gene cluster of E. coli contributes to ExPEC virulence in the mouse model of UTIs. Consistently, the distribution of cjrABC-senB is epidemiologically associated with human UTIs caused by E. coli. cjrABC-senB, which has previously been proposed to encode an iron uptake system, may facilitate ExPEC survival in the iron availability-restricted urinary tract. Given that the bloodstream is also an iron limited environment to invading bacteria, the pathogenic role of cjrABC-senB in ExPEC bacteremia, however, remains to be investigated. METHODS The ability of ExPEC RS218 strains with and without cjrABC-senB to survive in the mouse bloodstream and human serum was evaluated. Subsequently, the role of this gene cluster in the ExPEC interaction with the complement system was evaluated. Finally, the distribution of cjrABC-senB in human clinical E. coli isolates was determined by PCR. The frequency of cjrABC-senB in bacteremia isolates that were not associated with UTIs (non-UTI bacteremia isolates) was compared with that in UTI-associated isolates and fecal isolates. RESULTS Expression of cjrABC-senB attenuated the survival of RS218 in the mouse bloodstream and human serum. The cjrABC-senB-harboring strains triggered enhanced classical- and alternative-complement pathway activation and became more vulnerable to complement-mediated killing in serum. cjrA was identified as the major gene responsible for the attenuated serum survival. Expressing cjrABC-senB and cjrA increased bacterial susceptibility to detergent and induced periplasmic protein leakage, suggesting that the expression of these genes compromises the integrity of the outer membrane of ExPEC. In addition, the frequency of cjrABC-senB in non-UTI bacteremia isolates was significantly lower than that in UTI-associated isolates, while the frequencies in non-UTI bacteremia isolates and fecal isolates showed no significant difference. Consistently, this epidemiological investigation suggests that cjrABC-senB does not contribute to E. coli bacteremia in humans. CONCLUSION The contribution of cjrABC-senB to the pathogenesis of ExPEC is niche dependent and contradictory because the genes facilitate ExPEC UTIs but hinder bacteremia. The contradictory niche-dependent characteristic may benefit the development of novel strategies against E. coli-caused infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Chun Huang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 4th F, 367 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jyun Liao
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 4th F, 367 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Masayuki Hashimoto
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 4th F, 367 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
- Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Fu Chen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 4th F, 367 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Chishih Chu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biopharmaceuticals, National Chiayi University, Chiayi City, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chuen Hsu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 4th F, 367 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Shuying Wang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
- Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hao Teng
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 4th F, 367 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan.
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan.
- Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Perlee D, de Beer R, Florquin S, van der Poll T, van 't Veer C, de Vos AF. Caspase-11 contributes to pulmonary host defense against Klebsiella pneumoniae and local activation of coagulation. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2020; 319:L105-L114. [PMID: 32401674 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00422.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella (K.) pneumoniae is a common cause of gram-negative pneumonia and sepsis. Caspase-11 is an intracellular receptor for lipopolysaccharide and regulates pyroptosis, a specific form of inflammatory cell death, which aids in host defense against intracellular gram-negative bacteria. Recently, caspase-11 has also been implicated in blood coagulation. Previously, we found that local fibrin formation contributes to protective immunity against Klebsiella infection of the lung. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of caspase-11 in host defense during K. pneumoniae-evoked pneumonia and sepsis. Therefore, we infected wild-type and caspase-11-deficient (Casp11-/-) mice with a low-dose K. pneumoniae via the airways to induce a gradually evolving pneumosepsis. Casp11-/- mice displayed increased bacterial numbers in the lung 12 h and 48 h after inoculation. Analysis of pulmonary IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF levels showed reduced IL-1α levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and increased TNF levels in the lung of Casp11-/- mice at 48 h after inoculation. Lung γH2AX staining (marker for cell death), lung pathology and neutrophil influx in the lung, as well as bacterial dissemination and organ damage, however, were not altered in Casp11-/- mice after Klebsiella infection. Strikingly, analysis of cross-linked fibrin and D-dimer (markers for coagulation) revealed significantly less fibrin formation in the lungs of Casp11-/- mice at either time point after Klebsiella infection. These data reveal that caspase-11 contributes to protective immunity against K. pneumoniae possibly by activation of blood coagulation in the lung.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Desiree Perlee
- Center of Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Regina de Beer
- Center of Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sandrine Florquin
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tom van der Poll
- Center of Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis van 't Veer
- Center of Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alex F de Vos
- Center of Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Ernst CM, Braxton JR, Rodriguez-Osorio CA, Zagieboylo AP, Li L, Pironti A, Manson AL, Nair AV, Benson M, Cummins K, Clatworthy AE, Earl AM, Cosimi LA, Hung DT. Adaptive evolution of virulence and persistence in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Nat Med 2020; 26:705-711. [PMID: 32284589 PMCID: PMC9194776 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-020-0825-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Among the most urgent public health threats is the worldwide emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae1-4, 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, endemic6-8 and associated with high mortality6,9,10. 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 mutations. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the capsule biosynthesis gene wzc lead to hypercapsule production, which confers phagocytosis resistance, enhanced dissemination and increased mortality in animal models. In contrast, mutations disrupting capsule biosynthesis genes impair capsule production, which enhances epithelial cell invasion, in vitro biofilm formation and persistence in urinary tract infections. These two types of capsule mutants have emerged repeatedly and independently in Europe and the United States, with hypercapsule mutants associated with bloodstream infections and capsule-deficient mutants associated with urinary tract infections. In the latter case, drug-tolerant K. pneumoniae can persist to yield potentially untreatable, persistent infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph M Ernst
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julian R Braxton
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carlos A Rodriguez-Osorio
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna P Zagieboylo
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Li Li
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Anil V Nair
- Center for Systems Biology, Program in Membrane Biology, Division of Nephrology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maura Benson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kaelyn Cummins
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anne E Clatworthy
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ashlee M Earl
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lisa A Cosimi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deborah T Hung
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Transposon Mutagenesis Screen of Klebsiella pneumoniae Identifies Multiple Genes Important for Resisting Antimicrobial Activities of Neutrophils in Mice. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00034-20. [PMID: 31988174 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00034-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen that causes a range of infections, including pneumonias, urinary tract infections, and septicemia, in otherwise healthy and immunocompromised patients. K. pneumoniae has become an increasing concern due to the rise and spread of antibiotic-resistant and hypervirulent strains. However, its virulence determinants remain understudied. To identify novel K. pneumoniae virulence factors needed to cause pneumonia, a high-throughput screen was performed with an arrayed library of over 13,000 K. pneumoniae transposon insertion mutants in the lungs of wild-type (WT) and neutropenic mice using transposon sequencing (Tn-seq). Insertions in 166 genes resulted in K. pneumoniae mutants that were significantly less fit in the lungs of WT mice than in those of neutropenic mice. Of these, mutants with insertions in 51 genes still had significant defects in neutropenic mice, while mutants with insertions in 52 genes recovered significantly. In vitro screens using a minilibrary of K. pneumoniae transposon mutants identified putative functions for a subset of these genes, including in capsule content and resistance to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Lung infections in mice confirmed roles in K. pneumoniae virulence for the ΔdedA, ΔdsbC, ΔgntR, Δwzm-wzt, ΔyaaA, and ΔycgE mutants, all of which were defective in either capsule content or growth in reactive oxygen or nitrogen species. The fitness of the ΔdedA, ΔdsbC, ΔgntR, ΔyaaA, and ΔycgE mutants was higher in neutropenic mouse lungs, indicating that these genes encode proteins that protect K. pneumoniae against neutrophil-related effector functions.
Collapse
|
24
|
Tan YH, Chen Y, Chu WHW, Sham LT, Gan YH. Cell envelope defects of different capsule-null mutants in K1 hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae can affect bacterial pathogenesis. Mol Microbiol 2020; 113:889-905. [PMID: 31912541 PMCID: PMC7317392 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) causes Klebsiella‐induced liver abscess. Capsule is important for the pathogenesis of Klebsiella in systemic infection, but its role in gut colonisation is not well understood. By generating ΔwcaJ, Δwza and Δwzy capsule‐null mutants in a prototypical K1 hypervirulent isolate, we show that inactivation of wza (capsule exportase) and wzy (capsule polymerase) confer cell envelope defects in addition to capsule loss, making them susceptible to bile salts and detergent stress. Bile salt resistance is restored when the initial glycosyltransferase wcaJ was inactivated together with wzy, indicating that build‐up of capsule intermediates contribute to cell envelope defects. Mouse gut colonisation competition assays show that the capsule and its regulator RmpA were not required for hvKP to persist in the gut, although initial colonisation was decreased in the mutants. Both ΔrmpA and ΔwcaJ mutants gradually outcompeted the wild type in the gut, whereas Δwza and Δwzy mutants were less fit than wild type. Together, our results advise caution in using the right capsule‐null mutant for determination of capsule's role in bacterial pathogenesis. With the use of ΔwcaJ mutant, we found that although the capsule is important for bacterial survival outside the gut environment, it imposes a fitness cost in the gut.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Han Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yahua Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wilson H W Chu
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lok-To Sham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yunn-Hwen Gan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Hsu CR, Chang IW, Hsieh PF, Lin TL, Liu PY, Huang CH, Li KT, Wang JT. A Novel Role for the Klebsiella pneumoniae Sap (Sensitivity to Antimicrobial Peptides) Transporter in Intestinal Cell Interactions, Innate Immune Responses, Liver Abscess, and Virulence. J Infect Dis 2020; 219:1294-1306. [PMID: 30476200 PMCID: PMC6452313 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important human pathogen causing hospital-acquired and community-acquired infections. Systemic K. pneumoniae infections may be preceded by gastrointestinal colonization, but the basis of this bacterium’s interaction with the intestinal epithelium remains unclear. Here, we report that the K. pneumoniae Sap (sensitivity to antimicrobial peptides) transporter contributes to bacterial–host cell interactions and in vivo virulence. Gene deletion showed that sapA is required for the adherence of a K. pneumoniae blood isolate to intestinal epithelial, lung epithelial, urinary bladder epithelial, and liver cells. The ΔsapA mutant was deficient for translocation across intestinal epithelial monolayers, macrophage interactions, and induction of proinflammatory cytokines. In a mouse gastrointestinal infection model, ΔsapA yielded significantly decreased bacterial loads in liver, spleen and intestine, reduced liver abscess generation, and decreased mortality. These findings offer new insights into the pathogenic interaction of K. pneumoniae with the host gastrointestinal tract to cause systemic infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Ru Hsu
- Department of Medical Research, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,School of Medicine for International Students, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - I-Wei Chang
- Department of Pathology, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University.,Department of Pathology, Taipei Medical University Hospital
| | - Pei-Fang Hsieh
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine
| | - Tzu-Lung Lin
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine
| | - Pei-Yin Liu
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine
| | - Chen-Hsiu Huang
- School of Medicine for International Students, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Tzu Li
- Department of Medical Research, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jin-Town Wang
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine.,Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Hsieh PF, Lu YR, Lin TL, Lai LY, Wang JT. Klebsiella pneumoniae Type VI Secretion System Contributes to Bacterial Competition, Cell Invasion, Type-1 Fimbriae Expression, and In Vivo Colonization. J Infect Dis 2019; 219:637-647. [PMID: 30202982 PMCID: PMC6350951 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We previously isolated a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain, NTUH-K2044, from a community-acquired pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) patient. Analysis of the NTUH-K2044 genome revealed that this strain harbors 2 putative type VI secretion system (T6SS)-encoding gene clusters. Methods The distribution of T6SS genes in the PLA and intestinal-colonizing K pneumoniae clinical isolates was examined. icmF1-, icmF2-, icmF1/icmF2-, and hcp-deficient K pneumoniae strains were constructed using an unmarked deletion method. The roles of T6SSs in antibacterial activity, type-1 fimbriae expression, cell adhesion, and invasion and intestinal colonization were determined. Results The prevalence of T6SSs is higher in the PLA strains than in the intestinal-colonizing strains (37 of 42 vs 54 of 130). Deletion of icmF1/icmF2 and hcp genes significantly reduced interbacterial and intrabacterial killing. Strain deleted for icmF1 and icmF2 exhibited decreased transcriptional expression of type-1 fimbriae and reduced adherence to and invasion of human colorectal epithelial cells and was attenuated for in vivo competition to enable colonization of the host gut. Finally, Hcp expression in K pneumoniae was silenced by the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein via direct binding. Conclusions These results provide new insights into T6SS-mediated bacterial competition and attachment in K pneumoniae and could facilitate the prevention of K pneumoniae infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Fang Hsieh
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei
| | - Yi-Rou Lu
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei
| | - Tzu-Lung Lin
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei
| | - Li-Yin Lai
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei
| | - Jin-Town Wang
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei.,Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Lin TH, Wu CC, Kuo JT, Chu HF, Lee DY, Lin CT. FNR-Dependent RmpA and RmpA2 Regulation of Capsule Polysaccharide Biosynthesis in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2436. [PMID: 31736888 PMCID: PMC6828653 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fumarate nitrate reduction regulator (FNR) is a direct oxygen-responsive transcriptional regulator containing an iron-sulfur (Fe–S) cluster. During anaerobic growth, the [4Fe–4S] cluster in FNR (holo-FNR) binds specifically to DNA, whereas exposure to oxygen results in the loss of its DNA-binding activity via oxidation of the [4Fe–4S] cluster. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of FNR in regulation of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) biosynthesis, serum resistance, and anti-phagocytosis of K. pneumoniae. We found that the CPS amount in K. pneumoniae increased in anaerobic conditions, compared to that in aerobic conditions. An fnr deletion mutant and a site-directed mutant (fnr3CA), with the three cysteines (C20, C23, and C29) replaced with alanines to mimic an FNR lacking the [4Fe-4S] cluster, showed marked increase in CPS amount under anaerobic conditions. A promoter-reporter assay and qRT-PCR confirmed that the transcription of the cps genes was repressed by holo-FNR. In addition, we found that holo-FNR could repress the transcription of rmpA and rmpA2, encoding cps transcriptional activators. Deletion of rmpA or rmpA2 in the Δfnr strain reduced CPS biosynthesis, suggesting that RmpA and RmpA2 participated in the holo-FNR–mediated repression of cps transcription, thereby regulating the CPS amount, serum resistance, and anti-phagocytosis. Taken together, our results provided evidence that RmpA and RmpA2 participated in the holo-FNR–mediated repression of CPS biosynthesis, and resistance to the host defense in response to oxygen availability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tien-Huang Lin
- Department of Urology, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan.,School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chen Wu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jong-Tar Kuo
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsu-Feng Chu
- Biomedical Industry Ph.D. Program, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ding-Yu Lee
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ting Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Abstract
Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) is an evolving pathotype that is more virulent than classical K. pneumoniae (cKp). hvKp usually infects individuals from the community, who are often healthy. Infections are more common in the Asian Pacific Rim but are occurring globally. hvKp infection frequently presents at multiple sites or subsequently metastatically spreads, often requiring source control. hvKp has an increased ability to cause central nervous system infection and endophthalmitis, which require rapid recognition and site-specific treatment. The genetic factors that confer hvKp's hypervirulent phenotype are present on a large virulence plasmid and perhaps integrative conjugal elements. Increased capsule production and aerobactin production are established hvKp-specific virulence factors. Similar to cKp, hvKp strains are becoming increasingly resistant to antimicrobials via acquisition of mobile elements carrying resistance determinants, and new hvKp strains emerge when extensively drug-resistant cKp strains acquire hvKp-specific virulence determinants, resulting in nosocomial infection. Presently, clinical laboratories are unable to differentiate cKp from hvKp, but recently, several biomarkers and quantitative siderophore production have been shown to accurately predict hvKp strains, which could lead to the development of a diagnostic test for use by clinical laboratories for optimal patient care and for use in epidemiologic surveillance and research studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Russo
- Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
- The Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
- The Veterans Administration Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Candace M Marr
- Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Bengoechea JA, Sa Pessoa J. Klebsiella pneumoniae infection biology: living to counteract host defences. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2019; 43:123-144. [PMID: 30452654 PMCID: PMC6435446 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuy043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 277] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella species cause a wide range of diseases including pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), bloodstream infections and sepsis. These infections are particularly a problem among neonates, elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Klebsiella is also responsible for a significant number of community-acquired infections. A defining feature of these infections is their morbidity and mortality, and the Klebsiella strains associated with them are considered hypervirulent. The increasing isolation of multidrug-resistant strains has significantly narrowed, or in some settings completely removed, the therapeutic options for the treatment of Klebsiella infections. Not surprisingly, this pathogen has then been singled out as an 'urgent threat to human health' by several organisations. This review summarises the tremendous progress that has been made to uncover the sophisticated immune evasion strategies of K. pneumoniae. The co-evolution of Klebsiella in response to the challenge of an activated immune has made Klebsiella a formidable pathogen exploiting stealth strategies and actively suppressing innate immune defences to overcome host responses to survive in the tissues. A better understanding of Klebsiella immune evasion strategies in the context of the host-pathogen interactions is pivotal to develop new therapeutics, which can be based on antagonising the anti-immune strategies of this pathogen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José A Bengoechea
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Joana Sa Pessoa
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Peng D, Li X, Liu P, Zhou X, Luo M, Su K, Chen S, Zhang Z, He Q, Qiu J, Li Y. Transcriptional regulation of galF by RcsAB affects capsular polysaccharide formation in Klebsiella pneumoniae NTUH-K2044. Microbiol Res 2018; 216:70-78. [PMID: 30269858 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2018.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
RcsAB is an atypical two-component regulatory system that can regulate exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and is involved in the virulence of K. pneumoniae. The gene galF is well known as a gene involved in the biosynthesis of capsular polysaccharide (CPS). The specific DNA identification sequence for transcriptional regulation of RcsAB was found to be present in the promoter region of galF. This study aimed to detect the function of RcsAB in virulence and in biofilm and CPS formation. In addition, the transcriptional regulation of the galF gene in K. pneumoniae was studied. To determine the function of rcsAB gene, the wild-type K. pneumoniae strain NTUH-K2044 and the rcsAB knockout and complemented strains were used. The results showed decreased virulence, biofilm formation, and CPS levels in the rcsAB knockout strain. Complementation of the knockout by introducing an rcsAB fragment on an expression plasmid partially restored the virulence, biofilm, and CPS functions of the knockout strain. It indicated that the rcsAB genes might affect CPS formation and virulence of K. pneumonia. RT-qPCR, EMSA and DNase I footprinting assays were conducted to identify the transcriptional regulation of galF by RcsAB. RcsAB was seen to bind to the galF promoter-proximal region, and the binding site was further identified to be located from -177 bp to -152 bp upstream of the galF promoter. In conclusion, RcsAB could regulate the transcription of the galF gene positively by binding to the galF promoter DNA directly, and then affects the CPS formation of K. pneumonia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Peng
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuan Li
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Pin Liu
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xipeng Zhou
- Chongqing Tuberculosis Control Institute, Chongqing, China
| | - Mei Luo
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kewen Su
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuai Chen
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhongshuang Zhang
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiang He
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingfu Qiu
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yingli Li
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Mechanisms of Bacterial Tolerance and Persistence in the Gastrointestinal and Respiratory Environments. Clin Microbiol Rev 2018; 31:31/4/e00023-18. [PMID: 30068737 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00023-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogens that infect the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts are subjected to intense pressure due to the environmental conditions of the surroundings. This pressure has led to the development of mechanisms of bacterial tolerance or persistence which enable microorganisms to survive in these locations. In this review, we analyze the general stress response (RpoS mediated), reactive oxygen species (ROS) tolerance, energy metabolism, drug efflux pumps, SOS response, quorum sensing (QS) bacterial communication, (p)ppGpp signaling, and toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems of pathogens, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Vibrio spp., Helicobacter spp., Campylobacter jejuni, Enterococcus spp., Shigella spp., Yersinia spp., and Clostridium difficile, all of which inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. The following respiratory tract pathogens are also considered: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia cenocepacia, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms regulating the bacterial tolerance and persistence phenotypes is essential in the fight against multiresistant pathogens, as it will enable the identification of new targets for developing innovative anti-infective treatments.
Collapse
|
32
|
Rhinoscleroma pathogenesis: The type K3 capsule of Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis is a virulence factor not involved in Mikulicz cells formation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006201. [PMID: 29381692 PMCID: PMC5806929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhinoscleroma is a human specific chronic granulomatous infection of the nose and upper airways caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. rhinoscleromatis. Although considered a rare disease, it is endemic in low-income countries where hygienic conditions are poor. A hallmark of this pathology is the appearance of atypical foamy monocytes called Mikulicz cells. However, the pathogenesis of rhinoscleroma remains poorly investigated. Capsule polysaccharide (CPS) is a prominent virulence factor in bacteria. All K. rhinoscleromatis strains are of K3 serotype, suggesting that CPS can be an important driver of rhinoscleroma disease. In this study, we describe the creation of the first mutant of K. rhinoscleromatis, inactivated in its capsule export machinery. Using a murine model recapitulating the formation of Mikulicz cells in lungs, we observed that a K. rhinoscleromatis CPS mutant (KR cps-) is strongly attenuated and that mice infected with a high dose of KR cps- are still able to induce Mikulicz cells formation, unlike a K. pneumoniae capsule mutant, and to partially recapitulate the characteristic strong production of IL-10. Altogether, the results of this study show that CPS is a virulence factor of K. rhinoscleromatis not involved in the specific appearance of Mikulicz cells.
Collapse
|
33
|
Lin TH, Tseng CY, Lai YC, Wu CC, Huang CF, Lin CT. IscR Regulation of Type 3 Fimbriae Expression in Klebsiella pneumoniae CG43. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1984. [PMID: 29085346 PMCID: PMC5650617 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In Klebsiella pneumoniae, we have previously shown that IscR, an Fe–S cluster-containing transcriptional factor, plays a dual role in controlling capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis and iron-acquisition systems by switching between its holo and apo forms. In this study, the effect of IscR on type 3 fimbriae expression and biofilm formation was investigated. We found that production of the major subunit of type 3 fimbriae, MrkA, was increased in the ΔiscR and iscR3CA strains, a strain expressing a mutant IscR that mimics apo-IscR, at both the translational and transcriptional levels. Based on the fact that type 3 fimbriae expression is the major factor affecting biofilm formation, increased biofilm formation was also found in ΔiscR or iscR3CA, suggesting that holo-IscR represses biofilm formation. However, the repression of type 3 fimbriae expression by IscR is indirect. To further understand the regulatory mechanism of IscR, the effect of IscR on the expression of mrkHIJ, which encodes cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP)-related regulatory proteins that control type 3 fimbriae expression, was studied. We found that holo-IscR could directly repress mrkHI transcription, indicating that MrkHI is required for IscR regulation of type 3 fimbriae expression. Finally, deletion of iscR attenuated K. pneumoniae virulence in a peritonitis model of mouse infection, while the absence of the [2Fe–2S] cluster of IscR had no effect on K. pneumoniae virulence during infection. Taken together, our results demonstrate the underlying mechanism of the [2Fe–2S] cluster of IscR in controlling type 3 fimbriae expression and its effect on K. pneumoniae pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tien-Huang Lin
- Division of Urology, Taichung Tzu Chi General Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan.,School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yin Tseng
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Section of Infectious Disease, Hsinchu Mackay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chyi Lai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chung-Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chen Wu
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Fa Huang
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ting Lin
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Huynh DTN, Kim AY, Kim YR. Identification of Pathogenic Factors in Klebsiella pneumoniae Using Impedimetric Sensor Equipped with Biomimetic Surfaces. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2017; 17:E1406. [PMID: 28617330 PMCID: PMC5492845 DOI: 10.3390/s17061406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
K.pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that causes nosocomial infections, such as, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, septic shock, and gastro intestinal disease. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), capsular polysaccharide, and fimbriae are recognized major virulence factors of K.pneumoniae and play key roles during early stages of infections. In this study, we functionalized the surface of gold electrode with mannose and mucin to monitor the adhesion-associated virulence factors of K.pneumoniae. The binding characteristics of K.pneumoniae 2242 wild type and of its isogenic mutants lacking outer-core LPS (∆wabG) or fimbriae (∆fimA) were investigated using Faradaic impedance spectra. The results obtained showed fimbriae are responsible for K.pneumoniae adhesion to the mannose of glycoprotein on the surfaces of epithelial cells, whereas outer-core LPS and capsular polysaccharide are associated with specific binding to mucous. These results concurred with those of a conventional in vitro assay using human ileocecal epithelial cell (HCT-8 cells) and a human bladder epithelial cell (T-24), indicating that the devised method could be useful for investigating virulence-associated interactions of pathogenic bacteria with specific host cells and organs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duyen Thi Ngoc Huynh
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology & Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Korea.
| | - Ah-Young Kim
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology & Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Korea.
| | - Young-Rok Kim
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology & Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Chung PY. The emerging problems of Klebsiella pneumoniae infections: carbapenem resistance and biofilm formation. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2016; 363:fnw219. [PMID: 27664057 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnw219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that commonly causes nosocomial infections in the urinary tract, respiratory tract, lung, wound sites and blood in individuals with debilitating diseases. Klebsiella pneumoniae is still a cause of severe pneumonia in alcoholics in Africa and Asia, and the predominant primary pathogen of primary liver abscess in Taiwan and Southeast Asia, particularly in Asian and Hispanic patients, and individuals with diabetes mellitus. In the United States and Europe, K. pneumoniae infections are most frequently associated with nosocomial infections. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of K. pneumoniae worldwide has become a cause of concern where extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemase-producing strains have been isolated with increasing frequency. The pathogen's ability to form biofilms on inserted devices such as urinary catheter has been proposed as one of the important mechanisms in nosocomially acquired and persistent infections, adding to the increased resistance to currently used antibiotics. In this review, infections caused by K. pneumoniae, antibiotic resistance and formation of biofilm will be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pooi Yin Chung
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Miller SE, Bell CS, McClain MS, Cover TL, Giorgio TD. Dynamic Computational Model of Symptomatic Bacteremia to Inform Bacterial Separation Treatment Requirements. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0163167. [PMID: 27657881 PMCID: PMC5033423 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The rise of multi-drug resistance has decreased the effectiveness of antibiotics, which has led to increased mortality rates associated with symptomatic bacteremia, or bacterial sepsis. To combat decreasing antibiotic effectiveness, extracorporeal bacterial separation approaches have been proposed to capture and separate bacteria from blood. However, bacteremia is dynamic and involves host-pathogen interactions across various anatomical sites. We developed a mathematical model that quantitatively describes the kinetics of pathogenesis and progression of symptomatic bacteremia under various conditions, including bacterial separation therapy, to better understand disease mechanisms and quantitatively assess the biological impact of bacterial separation therapy. Model validity was tested against experimental data from published studies. This is the first multi-compartment model of symptomatic bacteremia in mammals that includes extracorporeal bacterial separation and antibiotic treatment, separately and in combination. The addition of an extracorporeal bacterial separation circuit reduced the predicted time of total bacteria clearance from the blood of an immunocompromised rodent by 49%, compared to antibiotic treatment alone. Implementation of bacterial separation therapy resulted in predicted multi-drug resistant bacterial clearance from the blood of a human in 97% less time than antibiotic treatment alone. The model also proposes a quantitative correlation between time-dependent bacterial load among tissues and bacteremia severity, analogous to the well-known ‘area under the curve’ for characterization of drug efficacy. The engineering-based mathematical model developed may be useful for informing the design of extracorporeal bacterial separation devices. This work enables the quantitative identification of the characteristics required of an extracorporeal bacteria separation device to provide biological benefit. These devices will potentially decrease the bacterial load in blood. Additionally, the devices may achieve bacterial separation rates that allow consequent acceleration of bacterial clearance in other tissues, inhibiting the progression of symptomatic bacteremia, including multi-drug resistant variations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sinead E. Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Charleson S. Bell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Mark S. McClain
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Timothy L. Cover
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Todd D. Giorgio
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Klebsiella pneumoniae Siderophores Induce Inflammation, Bacterial Dissemination, and HIF-1α Stabilization during Pneumonia. mBio 2016; 7:mBio.01397-16. [PMID: 27624128 PMCID: PMC5021805 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01397-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative pathogen responsible for a wide range of infections, including pneumonia and bacteremia, and is rapidly acquiring antibiotic resistance. K. pneumoniae requires secretion of siderophores, low-molecular-weight, high-affinity iron chelators, for bacterial replication and full virulence. The specific combination of siderophores secreted by K. pneumoniae during infection can impact tissue localization, systemic dissemination, and host survival. However, the effect of these potent iron chelators on the host during infection is unknown. In vitro, siderophores deplete epithelial cell iron, induce cytokine secretion, and activate the master transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein that controls vascular permeability and inflammatory gene expression. Therefore, we hypothesized that siderophore secretion by K. pneumoniae directly contributes to inflammation and bacterial dissemination during pneumonia. To examine the effects of siderophore secretion independently of bacterial growth, we performed infections with tonB mutants that persist in vivo but are deficient in siderophore import. Using a murine model of pneumonia, we found that siderophore secretion by K. pneumoniae induces the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6), CXCL1, and CXCL2, as well as bacterial dissemination to the spleen, compared to siderophore-negative mutants at an equivalent bacterial number. Furthermore, we determined that siderophore-secreting K. pneumoniae stabilized HIF-1α in vivo and that bacterial dissemination to the spleen required alveolar epithelial HIF-1α. Our results indicate that siderophores act directly on the host to induce inflammatory cytokines and bacterial dissemination and that HIF-1α is a susceptibility factor for bacterial invasion during pneumonia. Klebsiella pneumoniae causes a wide range of bacterial diseases, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and sepsis. To cause infection, K. pneumoniae steals iron from its host by secreting siderophores, small iron-chelating molecules. Classically, siderophores are thought to worsen infections by promoting bacterial growth. In this study, we determined that siderophore-secreting K. pneumoniae causes lung inflammation and bacterial dissemination to the bloodstream independently of bacterial growth. Furthermore, we determined that siderophore-secreting K. pneumoniae activates a host protein, hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α, and requires it for siderophore-dependent bacterial dissemination. Although HIF-1α can protect against some infections, it appears to worsen infection with K. pneumoniae. Together, these results indicate that bacterial siderophores directly alter the host response to pneumonia in addition to providing iron for bacterial growth. Therapies that disrupt production of siderophores could provide a two-pronged attack against K. pneumoniae infection by preventing bacterial growth and preventing bacterial dissemination to the blood.
Collapse
|
38
|
Identification of a capsular variant and characterization of capsular acetylation in Klebsiella pneumoniae PLA-associated type K57. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31946. [PMID: 27550826 PMCID: PMC4994043 DOI: 10.1038/srep31946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae can cause community-acquired pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) is important for its virulence. Among 79 capsular (K) types discovered thus far, K57 is often associated with PLA. Here, we report the identification of a K57 variant. Cps gene locus sequencing revealed differences between the K57 reference strain 4425/51 (Ref-K57) and a variant, the PLA isolate A1142. While Ref-K57 cps contained orf13 encoding a putative acetyltransferase, the insertion of a putative transposase-encoding gene at this position was detected in A1142. This variation was detected in other K57 clinical strains. Biochemical analyses indicated that A1142 was deficient in CPS acetylation. Genetic replacement and complementation verified that orf13 was responsible for CPS acetylation. Acetylation increased CPS immunoreactivity to antiserum and enhanced K. pneumoniae induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines through JNK and MAPK signaling. While acetylation diminished the serum resistance of bacteria, it promoted adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells possibly via increasing production of type I fimbriae. In conclusion, acetylation-mediated capsular variation in K57 was observed. Capsular acetylation contributed to the variety and antigenic diversity of CPS, influenced its biological activities, and was involved in K. pneumoniae-host interactions. These findings have implications for vaccine design and pathogenicity of K. pneumoniae.
Collapse
|
39
|
Xu B, Pei X, Su Y, Ma Z, Fan H. Capsule of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus hampers the adherence and invasion of epithelial and endothelial cells and is attenuated during internalization. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2016; 363:fnw164. [PMID: 27388015 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnw164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct interaction between pathogens and host cells often is a prerequisite for colonization, infection and dissemination. Regulated production of capsular polysaccharide (CPS), which is made of hyaluronic acid, is essential for the pathogenicity of Streptococcus equi subsp. Zooepidemicus (SEZ). Here, we constructed a CPS-deleted mutant and analyzed it along with the parental wild-type strain in attachment and invasion of mammalian epithelial and endothelial cell lines. The CPS-deleted mutant exhibited significant increase in adherence and invasion by several orders of magnitude compared with the wild-type strain through quantitative analysis and electron microscopy observation. After the wild-type strain was recovered from invaded cells, its morphology was analyzed by visual methods and scanning electron microscopy, which revealed that its capsule was almost completely absent. Capsule measurements showed a similar result in which CPS production was nearly attenuated to the same extent as in the CPS-deleted mutant. qPCR assays revealed a marked reduction in the transcriptional levels of the CPS biosynthesis genes, has operon. Moreover, the repression in capsular production was stable inheritance. Our findings indicate that SEZ is a facultative intracellular bacterium, capsule attenuation in SEZ contributes to attachment and invasion in interactions with host cells, and the active regulation of capsule breakdown is controlled by SEZ during internalization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiaomeng Pei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yiqi Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhe Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Hongjie Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae causes a wide range of infections, including pneumonias, urinary tract infections, bacteremias, and liver abscesses. Historically, K. pneumoniae has caused serious infection primarily in immunocompromised individuals, but the recent emergence and spread of hypervirulent strains have broadened the number of people susceptible to infections to include those who are healthy and immunosufficient. Furthermore, K. pneumoniae strains have become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, rendering infection by these strains very challenging to treat. The emergence of hypervirulent and antibiotic-resistant strains has driven a number of recent studies. Work has described the worldwide spread of one drug-resistant strain and a host defense axis, interleukin-17 (IL-17), that is important for controlling infection. Four factors, capsule, lipopolysaccharide, fimbriae, and siderophores, have been well studied and are important for virulence in at least one infection model. Several other factors have been less well characterized but are also important in at least one infection model. However, there is a significant amount of heterogeneity in K. pneumoniae strains, and not every factor plays the same critical role in all virulent Klebsiella strains. Recent studies have identified additional K. pneumoniae virulence factors and led to more insights about factors important for the growth of this pathogen at a variety of tissue sites. Many of these genes encode proteins that function in metabolism and the regulation of transcription. However, much work is left to be done in characterizing these newly discovered factors, understanding how infections differ between healthy and immunocompromised patients, and identifying attractive bacterial or host targets for treating these infections.
Collapse
|
41
|
Hsieh PF, Hsu CR, Chen CT, Lin TL, Wang JT. The Klebsiella pneumoniae YfgL (BamB) lipoprotein contributes to outer membrane protein biogenesis, type-1 fimbriae expression, anti-phagocytosis, and in vivo virulence. Virulence 2016; 7:587-601. [PMID: 27029012 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2016.1171435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that causes several kinds of infections, including pneumonia, bacteremia, urinary tract infection and community-acquired pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). Adhesion is the critical first step in the infection process. Our previous work demonstrated that the transcellular translocation is exploited by K. pneumoniae strains to migrate from the gut flora into other tissues, resulting in systemic infections. However, the initial stages of K. pneumoniae infection remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that a K. pneumoniae strain deleted for yfgL (bamB) exhibited reduced adherence to and invasion of host cells; changed biogenesis of major β-barrel outer membrane proteins; decreased transcriptional expression of type-1 fimbriae; and increased susceptibility to vancomycin and erythromycin. The yfgL deletion mutant also had reduced ability to against neutrophil phagocytosis; exhibited decreased induction of host IL-6 production; and was profoundly attenuated for virulence in a K. pneumoniae model of bacteremia. Thus, the K. pneumoniae YfgL lipoprotein mediates in outer membrane proteins biogenesis and is crucial for anti-phagocytosis and survival in vivo. These data provide a new insight for K. pneumoniae attachment and such knowledge could facilitate preventive therapies or alternative therapies against K. pneumoniae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Fang Hsieh
- a Department of Microbiology , National Taiwan University College of Medicine , Taipei , Taiwan
| | - Chun-Ru Hsu
- b Department of Medical Research , E-Da Hospital , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.,c School of Medicine, I-Shou University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan
| | - Chun-Tang Chen
- a Department of Microbiology , National Taiwan University College of Medicine , Taipei , Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Lung Lin
- a Department of Microbiology , National Taiwan University College of Medicine , Taipei , Taiwan
| | - Jin-Town Wang
- a Department of Microbiology , National Taiwan University College of Medicine , Taipei , Taiwan.,d Department of Internal Medicine , National Taiwan University Hospital , Taipei , Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Leone L, Raffa S, Martinelli D, Torrisi MR, Santino I. Carbapenem resistance confers to Klebsiella pneumoniae strains an enhanced ability to induce infection and cell death in epithelial tissue-specific in vitro models. Future Microbiol 2016; 10:743-61. [PMID: 26000649 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.14.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains (KPC-Kp) are emerging worldwide causing different nosocomial infections including those of the urinary tract, lung or skin wounds. For these strains, the antibiotic treatment is limited to only few choices including colistin, whose continuous use led to the emergence of carbapenem-resistant KPC-Kp strains resistant also to this treatment (KPC-Kp Col-R). AIM Very little is known about the capacity of the different strains of KPC-Kp to invade the epithelial cells in vitro. To verify if the acquisition of carbapenem-resistant and the colistin-resistant phenotypes are correlated with a different ability to infect a series of epithelial cell lines of various tissutal origin and with a different capacity to induce cellular death. MATERIALS & METHODS We used Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), KPC-Kp and KPC-Kp Col-R strains, isolated from different patients carrying various tissue-specific infections, to infect a series of epithelial cell lines of different tissutal origin. The invasive capacity of the strains and the extent and characteristics of the cell damage and death induced by the bacteria were evaluated and compared. CONCLUSION Our results show that both KPC-Kp and KPC-Kp Col-R display a greater ability to infect the epithelial cells, with respect to KP, and that the bacterial cell invasion results in a nonprogrammed cell death.
Collapse
|
43
|
King JE, Roberts IS. Bacterial Surfaces: Front Lines in Host-Pathogen Interaction. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 915:129-56. [PMID: 27193542 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-32189-9_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
All bacteria are bound by at least one membrane that acts as a barrier between the cell's interior and the outside environment. Surface components within and attached to the cell membrane are essential for ensuring that the overall homeostasis of the cell is maintained. However, many surface components of the bacterial cell also have an indispensable role mediating interactions of the bacteria with their immediate environment and as such are essential to the pathogenesis of infectious disease. During the course of an infection, bacterial pathogens will encounter many different ecological niches where environmental conditions such as salinity, temperature, pH, and the availability of nutrients fluctuate. It is the bacterial cell surface that is at the front-line of these host-pathogen interactions often protecting the bacterium from hostile surroundings but at the same time playing a critical role in the adherence to host tissues promoting colonization and subsequent infection. To deal effectively with the changing environments that pathogens may encounter in different ecological niches within the host many of the surface components of the bacterial cell are subject to phenotypic variation resulting in heterogeneous subpopulations of bacteria within the clonal population. This dynamic phenotypic heterogeneity ensures that at least a small fraction of the population will be adapted for a particular circumstance should it arise. Diversity within the clonal population has often been masked by studies on entire bacterial populations where it was often assumed genes were expressed in a uniform manner. This chapter, therefore, aims to highlight the non-uniformity in certain cell surface structures and will discuss the implication of this heterogeneity in bacterial-host interaction. Some of the recent advances in studying bacterial surface structures at the single cell level will also be reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jane E King
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Ian S Roberts
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Liu G, Gradstedt H, Ermert D, Englund E, Singh B, Su YC, Johansson ME, Aspberg A, Agarwal V, Riesbeck K, Blom AM. Moraxella catarrhalis Evades Host Innate Immunity via Targeting Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 196:1249-58. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1502071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
45
|
Huynh DTN, Kim AY, Seol IH, Jung S, Lim MC, Lee JA, Jo MR, Choi SJ, Kim B, Lee J, Kim W, Kim YR. Inactivation of the virulence factors from 2,3-butanediol-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:9427-38. [PMID: 26239074 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6861-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The microbiological production of 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) has attracted considerable attention as an alternative way to produce high-value chemicals from renewable sources. Among the number of 2,3-BDO-producing microorganisms, Klebsiella pneumoniae has been studied most extensively and is known to produce large quantity of 2,3-BDO from a range of substrates. On the other hand, the pathogenic characteristics of the bacteria have limited its industrial applications. In this study, two major virulence traits, outer core LPS and fimbriae, were removed through homologous recombination from 2,3-BDO-producing K. pneumoniae 2242 to expand its uses to the industrial scale. The K. pneumoniae 2242 ∆wabG mutant strain was found to have an impaired capsule, which significantly reduced its ability to bind to the mucous layer and evade the phagocytic activity of macrophage. The association with the human ileocecal epithelial cell, HCT-8, and the bladder epithelial cell, T-24, was also reduced dramatically in the K. pneumoniae 2242 ∆fimA mutant strain that was devoid of fimbriae. However, the growth rate and production yield for 2,3-BDO were unaffected. The K. pneumoniae strains developed in this study, which are devoid of the major virulence factors, have a high potential for the efficient and sustainable production of 2,3-BDO.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duyen Thi Ngoc Huynh
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Ah-Young Kim
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Hye Seol
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Samuel Jung
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Cheol Lim
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-A Lee
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Seoul Women's University, Seoul, 139-774, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Rae Jo
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Seoul Women's University, Seoul, 139-774, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Jin Choi
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Seoul Women's University, Seoul, 139-774, Republic of Korea
| | - Borim Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 121-742, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinwon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 121-742, Republic of Korea
| | - Wooki Kim
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea.,Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Rok Kim
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Li B, Zhao Y, Liu C, Chen Z, Zhou D. Molecular pathogenesis of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Future Microbiol 2015; 9:1071-81. [PMID: 25340836 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.14.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Typical Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen, which mostly affects those with weakened immune systems and tends to cause nosocomial infections. A subset of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae serotypes with elevated production of capsule polysaccharide can affect previously healthy persons and cause life-threatening community-acquired infections, such as pyogenic liver abscess, meningitis, necrotizing fasciitis, endophthalmitis and severe pneumonia. K. pneumoniae utilizes a variety of virulence factors, especially capsule polysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide, fimbriae, outer membrane proteins and determinants for iron acquisition and nitrogen source utilization, for survival and immune evasion during infection. This article aims to present the state-of-the-art understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of K. pneumoniae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bei Li
- Department of Dermatology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Klebsiella pneumoniae translocates across the intestinal epithelium via Rho GTPase- and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt-dependent cell invasion. Infect Immun 2014; 83:769-79. [PMID: 25452552 DOI: 10.1128/iai.02345-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important pathogen that causes hospital-acquired septicemia and is associated with the recent emergence of community-acquired pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). Clinical typing suggests that K. pneumoniae infections originate from the gastrointestinal reservoir. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Here, we have sought to determine how K. pneumoniae penetrates the intestinal barrier. We identified that bacteremia and PLA clinical isolates adhered to and invaded intestinal epithelial cells. Internalization of K. pneumoniae in three different human colonic cell lines was visualized by confocal microscopy and three-dimensional (3D) imaging. Using a Transwell system, we demonstrated that these K. pneumoniae isolates translocated across a polarized Caco-2 monolayer. No disruptions of transepithelial electrical resistance and altered distribution of tight junction protein ZO-1 or occludin were observed. Therefore, K. pneumoniae appeared to penetrate the intestinal epithelium via a transcellular pathway. Using specific inhibitors, we characterized the host signaling pathways involved. Inhibition by cytochalasin D and nocodazole suggested that actin and microtubule cytoskeleton were both important for K. pneumoniae invasion. A Rho inhibitor, ML141, LY294002, and an Akt1/2 inhibitor diminished K. pneumoniae invasion in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that Rho family GTPases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling were required. By a mouse model of gastrointestinal colonization, in vivo invasion of K. pneumoniae into colonic epithelial cells was demonstrated. Our results present evidence to describe a possible mechanism of gastrointestinal translocation for K. pneumoniae. Cell invasion by manipulating host machinery provides a pathway for gut-colonized K. pneumoniae cells to penetrate the intestinal barrier and access extraintestinal locations to cause disease.
Collapse
|
48
|
Wu CC, Wang CK, Chen YC, Lin TH, Jinn TR, Lin CT. IscR regulation of capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis and iron-acquisition systems in Klebsiella pneumoniae CG43. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107812. [PMID: 25237815 PMCID: PMC4169559 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 08/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
IscR, an Fe–S cluster-containing transcriptional factor, regulates genes involved in various cellular processes. In response to environmental stimuli such as oxidative stress and iron levels, IscR switches between its holo and apo forms to regulate various targets. IscR binding sequences are classified into two types: the type 1 IscR box that is specific for holo-IscR binding, and the type 2 IscR box that binds holo- and apo-IscR. Studying Klebsiella pneumoniae CG43S3, we have previously shown that iron availability regulates capsular polysaccharide (CPS) biosynthesis and iron-acquisition systems. The present study investigated whether IscR is involved in this regulation. Compared with that in CG43S3, the amount of CPS was decreased in AP001 (ΔiscR) or AP002 (iscR3CA), a CG43S3-derived strain expressing mutated IscR mimicked apo-IscR, suggesting that only holo-IscR activates CPS biosynthesis. Furthermore, a promoter-reporter assay verified that the transcription of cps genes was reduced in AP001 and AP002. Purified IscR::His6, but not IscR3CA::His6, was also found to bind the predicted type 1 IscR box specifically in the cps promoter. Furthermore, reduced siderophore production was observed in AP004 (Δfur-ΔiscR) but not in AP005 (Δfur-iscR3CA), implying that apo-IscR activates iron acquisition. Compared with those in AP004, mRNA levels of three putative iron acquisition systems (fhu, iuc, and sit) were increased in AP005, and both purified IscR::His6 and IscR3CA::His6 bound the predicted type 2 IscR box in the fhuA, iucA, and sitA promoters, whereas IscR3CA::His6 displayed a lower affinity. Finally, we analyzed the effect of external iron levels on iscR expression. The transcription of iscR was increased under iron-depleted conditions as well as in AP001 and AP002, suggesting an auto-repression exerted by apo-IscR. Our results show that in K. pneumoniae, IscR plays a dual role in the regulation of CPS biosynthesis and iron-acquisition systems in response to environmental iron availability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Chen Wu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chien-Kuo Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yu-Ching Chen
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Tien-Huang Lin
- Division of Urology, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Tzyy-Rong Jinn
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Ching-Ting Lin
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Fodah RA, Scott JB, Tam HH, Yan P, Pfeffer TL, Bundschuh R, Warawa JM. Correlation of Klebsiella pneumoniae comparative genetic analyses with virulence profiles in a murine respiratory disease model. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107394. [PMID: 25203254 PMCID: PMC4159340 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 08/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a bacterial pathogen of worldwide importance and a significant contributor to multiple disease presentations associated with both nosocomial and community acquired disease. ATCC 43816 is a well-studied K. pneumoniae strain which is capable of causing an acute respiratory disease in surrogate animal models. In this study, we performed sequencing of the ATCC 43816 genome to support future efforts characterizing genetic elements required for disease. Furthermore, we performed comparative genetic analyses to the previously sequenced genomes from NTUH-K2044 and MGH 78578 to gain an understanding of the conservation of known virulence determinants amongst the three strains. We found that ATCC 43816 and NTUH-K2044 both possess the known virulence determinant for yersiniabactin, as well as a Type 4 secretion system (T4SS), CRISPR system, and an acetonin catabolism locus, all absent from MGH 78578. While both NTUH-K2044 and MGH 78578 are clinical isolates, little is known about the disease potential of these strains in cell culture and animal models. Thus, we also performed functional analyses in the murine macrophage cell lines RAW264.7 and J774A.1 and found that MGH 78578 (K52 serotype) was internalized at higher levels than ATCC 43816 (K2) and NTUH-K2044 (K1), consistent with previous characterization of the antiphagocytic properties of K1 and K2 serotype capsules. We also examined the three K. pneumoniae strains in a novel BALB/c respiratory disease model and found that ATCC 43816 and NTUH-K2044 are highly virulent (LD50<100 CFU) while MGH 78578 is relatively avirulent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramy A. Fodah
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Jacob B. Scott
- Dental School, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
- College of Dentistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Hok-Hei Tam
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Pearlly Yan
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- Departments of Physics and Chemistry & Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Tia L. Pfeffer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Ralf Bundschuh
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- Departments of Physics and Chemistry & Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Jonathan M. Warawa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
- Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Kanevsky-Mullarky I, Nedrow A, Garst S, Wark W, Dickenson M, Petersson-Wolfe C, Zadoks R. Short communication: Comparison of virulence factors in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains associated with multiple or single cases of mastitis. J Dairy Sci 2014; 97:2213-8. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2013-7140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|