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Huang L, Li Y, Xu C, Zhou M, Wang T, Wang T, Wang J, Tang J, Li Y, Dong N. A novel virulence plasmid encoding yersiniabactin, salmochelin, and RmpADC from hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae of distinct genetic backgrounds. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0093523. [PMID: 37819104 PMCID: PMC10648971 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00935-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) is increasingly reported worldwide as a major clinical and public health threat. The virulence of hvKP is attributed largely to the carriage of virulence plasmids (KpVPs). To date, two dominant types of KpVP have been identified, namely, KpVP-1 and KpVP-2. In this study, we reported two hvKP strains from bloodstream infections that carry highly identical virulence plasmids that exhibited <40% coverage compared with KpVP-1 and KpVP-2. This novel virulence plasmid was designated KpVP-3. The two hvKP have different genetic backgrounds, which belonged to ST29-K54 and ST111-K63, respectively. They were both positive for the string test, highly virulent on the Galleria mellonella infection model, and possess high-level macrophage-killing resistance in vitro. Apart from the intrinsic non-susceptibility to ampicillin, both strains were susceptible to commonly used antibiotics. The virulence plasmid carried virulence genes rmpADC, iroBCDN (iro1), and the ybt locus (ybt4) which was not present on either KpVP-1 or KpVP-2. It did not carry antimicrobial resistance genes but carried an incomplete conjugation machinery containing only the traH and traF genes. The KpVP-3 plasmid was stably maintained in both hvKP strains and could not be eliminated with SDS treatment or by serial passage on stress-free agar plates. KpVP-3 was non-self-transmissible under experimental conditions. Data mining suggested KpVP-3-type plasmids have emerged in different countries including China, Australia, and the USA. The emergence of this novel virulence plasmid might pose a potential threat to public health. Heightened efforts are required to study its dissemination mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Huang
- Laboratory Department, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yunbing Li
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Experimental Center, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Chen Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Mi Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Tianyi Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Tianyu Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiayi Tang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Experimental Center, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ning Dong
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Pathogen Bioscience and Anti-infective Medicine, School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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