scholarly journals Epigenomics, genomics, resistome, mobilome, virulome and evolutionary phylogenomics of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical strains

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katlego Kopotsa ◽  
Nontombi M. Mbelle ◽  
John Osei Sekyere
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Type I ◽  
Bacteriophage Therapy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Plasmid Replicon ◽  
Size Number ◽  
Plasmid Size ◽  
Epidemiological Trends

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) remains a major clinical pathogen and public health threat with few therapeutic options. The mobilome, resistome, methylome, virulome and phylogeography of CRKP in South Africa and globally were characterized. CRKP collected in 2018 were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, screening by multiplex PCR, genotyping by repetitive element palindromic (REP)-PCR, plasmid size, number, incompatibility and mobility analyses, and PacBio’s SMRT sequencing (n=6). There were 56 multidrug-resistant CRKP, having bla OXA-48-like and bla NDM-1/7 carbapenemases on self-transmissible IncF, A/C, IncL/M and IncX3 plasmids endowed with prophages, traT, resistance islands, and type I and II restriction modification systems (RMS). Plasmids and clades detected in this study were respectively related to globally established/disseminated plasmids clades/clones, evincing transboundary horizontal and vertical dissemination. Reduced susceptibility to colistin occurred in 23 strains. Common clones included ST307, ST607, ST17, ST39 and ST3559. IncFIIk virulent plasmid replicon was present in 56 strains. Whole-genome sequencing of six strains revealed least 41 virulence genes, extensive ompK36 mutations, and four different K- and O-loci types: KL2, KL25, KL27, KL102, O1, O2, O4 and O5. Types I, II and III RMS, conferring m6A (G A TC, G A TGNNNNNNTTG, CA A NNNNNNCATC motifs) and m4C (C C WGG) modifications on chromosomes and plasmids, were found. The nature of plasmid-mediated, clonal and multi-clonal dissemination of blaOXA-48-like and blaNDM-1 mirrors epidemiological trends observed for closely related plasmids and sequence types internationally. Worryingly, the presence of both bla OXA-48 and bla NDM-1 in the same isolates was observed. Plasmid-mediated transmission of RMS, virulome and prophages influence bacterial evolution, epidemiology, pathogenicity and resistance, threatening infection treatment. The influence of RMS on antimicrobial and bacteriophage therapy needs urgent investigation.

scholarly journals Epigenomics, Genomics, Resistome, Mobilome, Virulome and Evolutionary Phylogenomics of Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical strains

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katlego Kopotsa ◽  
Nontombi M Mbelle ◽  
Osei Sekyere John
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Type I ◽  
Bacteriophage Therapy ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Rich Diversity ◽  
Restriction Modification ◽  
Restriction Modification Systems

AbstractBackgroundCarbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) remains a major clinical pathogen and public health threat with few therapeutic options. The mobilome, resistome, methylome, virulome and phylogeography of CRKP were characterised.MethodsCRKP collected in 2018 were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, screening by multiplex-PCR, genotyping by Repetitive Element Palindromic-Polymerase Chain Reaction (REP-PCR), plasmid size, number, incompatibility, and mobility analyses, and PacBio’s SMRT sequencing (n=6).Results & conclusionThere were 56 multidrug-resistant CRKP, having blaOXA-48-like and blaNDM-1/7 carbapenemases on self-transmissible IncF, A/C, IncL/M and IncX3 plasmids endowed with prophages, traT, resistance islands and type I and II restriction modification systems (RMS). These plasmids were of close evolutionary relationship to several plasmids globally whilst the strains also clustered with several global clades, evincing transboundary horizontal and vertical dissemination. Reduced susceptibility to colistin occurred in 23 strains. Common clones included ST307, ST607, ST17, ST39, and ST3559. IncFIIk virulent plasmid replicon was present in 56 strains. The six strains contained at least 41 virulence genes and four different K- and O-loci types: KL2, KL25, KL27, KL102, O1, O2, O4 and O5. Types I, II, and III RMS, conferring m6A (GATC, GATGNNNNNNTTG, CAANNNNNNCATC motifs) and m4C (CCWGG) modifications on chromosomes and plasmids, were found.There is plasmid-mediated, clonal, and multiclonal dissemination of blaOXA-48-like and blaNDM-1 in South Africa, mirroring international epidemiology of similar clones and plasmids. Plasmid-mediated transmission of RMS, virulome and prophages influence bacterial evolution, epidemiology, pathogenicity, and resistance, threatening infection treatment. RMS influence on antimicrobial and bacteriophage therapy needs urgent investigation.Highlights/ImportanceK. pneumoniae is a major pathogen implicated in numerous nosocomial infections. Worryingly, we show that K. pneumoniae isolates from South Africa, Africa and globally are endowed with rich resistomes and mobilomes that make them almost pandrug resistant. The isolates in this study contained rich virulomes and prophages on both chromosomes and plasmids, with close evolutionary kith or kin to other plasmids identified worldwide. There was a rich diversity of restriction modification systems that regulate virulence, transcription, and plasmid mobility in bacteria, facilitating the epidemiology, resistance, pathogenicity and genomic evolution of the strains, and threatening antimicrobial and bacteriophage therapy.

scholarly journals Fighting Antibiotic-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae with “Sweet” Immune Targets

mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Adamo ◽  
Immaculada Margarit
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Surface Polysaccharides ◽  
Resistant Strains ◽  
Murine Monoclonal Antibodies

ABSTRACT Antibiotics and vaccines have greatly impacted human health in the last century by dramatically reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases. The recent challenge posed by the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria could possibly be addressed by novel immune prophylactic and therapeutic approaches. Among the newly threatening pathogens, Klebsiella pneumoniae is particularly worrisome in the nosocomial setting, and its surface polysaccharides are regarded as promising antigen candidates. The majority of Klebsiella carbapenem-resistant strains belong to the sequence type 158 (ST258) lineage, with two main clades expressing capsular polysaccharides CPS1 and CPS2. In a recent article, S. D. Kobayashi and colleagues (mBio 9:e00297-18, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00297-18) show that CPS2-specific IgGs render ST258 clade 2 bacteria more sensitive to human serum and phagocytic killing. E. Diago-Navarro et al. (mBio 9:e00091-18, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00091-18) generated two murine monoclonal antibodies recognizing distinct glycotopes of CPS2 that presented functional activity against multiple ST258 strains. These complementary studies represent a step toward the control of this dangerous pathogen.

scholarly journals Emergence and Evolution of Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae with both blaKPC and blaCTX-M Integrated in the Chromosome

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weihua Huang ◽  
Guiqing Wang ◽  
Robert Sebra ◽  
Jian Zhuge ◽  
Changhong Yin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Type I ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

ABSTRACT The extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)- and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae represent serious and urgent threats to public health. In a retrospective study of multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae, we identified three clinical isolates, CN1, CR14, and NY9, carrying both bla CTX-M and bla KPC genes. The complete genomes of these three K. pneumoniae isolates were de novo assembled by using both short- and long-read whole-genome sequencing. In CR14 and NY9, bla CTX-M and bla KPC were carried on two different plasmids. In contrast, CN1 had one copy of bla KPC-2 and three copies of bla CTX-M-15 integrated in the chromosome, for which the bla CTX-M-15 genes were linked to an insertion sequence, ISEcp1, whereas the bla KPC-2 gene was in the context of a Tn4401a transposition unit conjugated with a PsP3-like prophage. Intriguingly, downstream of the Tn4401a-bla KPC-2-prophage genomic island, CN1 also carried a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-cas array with four spacers targeting a variety of K. pneumoniae plasmids harboring antimicrobial resistance genes. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that there were two subtypes of type I-E CRISPR-cas in K. pneumoniae strains and suggested that the evolving CRISPR-cas, with its acquired novel spacer, induced the mobilization of antimicrobial resistance genes from plasmids into the chromosome. The integration and dissemination of multiple copies of bla CTX-M and bla KPC from plasmids to chromosome depicts the complex pandemic scenario of multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae. Additionally, the implications from this study also raise concerns for the application of a CRISPR-cas strategy against antimicrobial resistance.

scholarly journals A Prolonged Outbreak of KPC-3-Producing Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella pneumoniae Driven by Multiple Mechanisms of Resistance Transmission at a Large Academic Burn Center

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajime Kanamori ◽  
Christian M. Parobek ◽  
Jonathan J. Juliano ◽  
David van Duin ◽  
Bruce A. Cairns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Enterobacter Cloacae ◽  
The United States ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Burn Center ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant

ABSTRACT Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacter cloacae has been recently recognized in the United States. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has become a useful tool for analysis of outbreaks and for determining transmission networks of multidrug-resistant organisms in health care settings, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). We experienced a prolonged outbreak of CRE E. cloacae and K. pneumoniae over a 3-year period at a large academic burn center despite rigorous infection control measures. To understand the molecular mechanisms that sustained this outbreak, we investigated the CRE outbreak isolates by using WGS. Twenty-two clinical isolates of CRE, including E. cloacae (n = 15) and K. pneumoniae (n = 7), were sequenced and analyzed genetically. WGS revealed that this outbreak, which seemed epidemiologically unlinked, was in fact genetically linked over a prolonged period. Multiple mechanisms were found to account for the ongoing outbreak of KPC-3-producing E. cloacae and K. pneumoniae. This outbreak was primarily maintained by a clonal expansion of E. cloacae sequence type 114 (ST114) with distribution of multiple resistance determinants. Plasmid and transposon analyses suggested that the majority of bla KPC-3 was transmitted via an identical Tn4401b element on part of a common plasmid. WGS analysis demonstrated complex transmission dynamics within the burn center at levels of the strain and/or plasmid in association with a transposon, highlighting the versatility of KPC-producing Enterobacteriaceae in their ability to utilize multiple modes to resistance gene propagation.

scholarly journals An IncR Plasmid Harbored by a Hypervirulent Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Strain Possesses Five Tandem Repeats of the blaKPC-2::NTEKPC-Id Fragment

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Dong ◽  
Lizhang Liu ◽  
Rong Zhang ◽  
Kaichao Chen ◽  
Miaomiao Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Homologous Recombination ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Tandem Repeats ◽  
Dna Recombination ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Plasmid Evolution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant

ABSTRACT Completed sequences of three plasmids from a carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate, SH9, were obtained. In addition to the pLVPK-like virulence-conferring plasmid (pVir-CR-HvKP_SH9), the two multidrug-resistant plasmids (pKPC-CR-HvKP4_SH9 and pCTX-M-CR-HvKP4_SH9) were predicted to originate from a single pKPC-CR-HvKP4-like multireplicon plasmid through homologous recombination. Interestingly, the blaKPC-2 gene was detectable in five tandem repeats exhibiting the format of an NTEKPC-Id-like transposon (IS26-ΔTn3-ISKpn8-blaKPC-2-ΔISKpn6-korC-orf-IS26). The data suggest an important role of DNA recombination in mediating active plasmid evolution.

scholarly journals In VitroActivity of LYS228, a Novel Monobactam Antibiotic, against Multidrug-ResistantEnterobacteriaceae

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanne Blais ◽  
Sara Lopez ◽  
Cindy Li ◽  
Alexey Ruzin ◽  
Srijan Ranjitkar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Carbapenem Resistance ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Minimal Bactericidal Concentration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Time Kill ◽  
Reference Strains ◽  
M 14

ABSTRACTLYS228 is a novel monobactam with potent activity againstEnterobacteriaceae. LYS228 is stable to metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) and serine carbapenemases, includingKlebsiella pneumoniaecarbapenemases (KPCs), resulting in potency against the majority of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and carbapenem-resistantEnterobacteriaceaestrains tested. Overall, LYS228 demonstrated potent activity against 271Enterobacteriaceaestrains, including multidrug-resistant isolates. Based on MIC90values, LYS228 (MIC90, 1 μg/ml) was ≥32-fold more active against those strains than were aztreonam, ceftazidime, ceftazidime-avibactam, cefepime, and meropenem. The tigecycline MIC90was 4 μg/ml against the strains tested. AgainstEnterobacteriaceaeisolates expressing ESBLs (n= 37) or displaying carbapenem resistance (n= 77), LYS228 had MIC90values of 1 and 4 μg/ml, respectively. LYS228 exhibited potent bactericidal activity, as indicated by low minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) to MIC ratios (MBC/MIC ratios of ≤4) against 97.4% of theEnterobacteriaceaestrains tested (264/271 strains). In time-kill studies, LYS228 consistently achieved reductions in CFU per milliliter of 3 log10units (≥99.9% killing) at concentrations ≥4× MIC forEscherichia coliandK. pneumoniaereference strains, as well as isolates encoding TEM-1, SHV-1, CTX-M-14, CTX-M-15, KPC-2, KPC-3, and NDM-1 β-lactamases.

scholarly journals Novel, Broadly Reactive Anticapsular Antibodies against Carbapenem-ResistantKlebsiella pneumoniaeProtect from Infection

mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Diago-Navarro ◽  
Michael P. Motley ◽  
Gonzalo Ruiz-Peréz ◽  
Winnie Yu ◽  
Julianne Austin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Treatment Alternative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Polysaccharide Capsule ◽  
Valuable Treatment

ABSTRACTCarbapenem-resistant (CR) sequence type 258 (ST258)Klebsiella pneumoniaehas become an urgent health care threat, causing an increasing number of high-mortality infections. Its resistance to numerous antibiotics and threat to immunocompromised patients necessitate finding new therapies to combat these infections. Previous successes in the laboratory, as well as the conservation of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) among the members of the ST258 clone, suggest that monoclonal antibody (MAb) therapy targeting the outer polysaccharide capsule ofK. pneumoniaecould serve as a valuable treatment alternative for afflicted patients. Here, we isolated several IgG antibodies from mice inoculated with a mixture of CRK. pneumoniaeCPS conjugated to anthrax protective antigen. Two of these MAbs, 17H12 and 8F12, bind whole and oligosaccharide epitopes of the CPS of clade 2 ST258 CRK. pneumoniae, which is responsible for the most virulent CRK. pneumoniaeinfections in the United States. These antibodies were shown to agglutinate all clade 2 strains and were also shown to promote extracellular processes killing these bacteria, including biofilm inhibition, complement deposition, and deployment of neutrophil extracellular traps. Additionally, they promoted opsonophagocytosis and intracellular killing of CRK. pneumoniaeby human-derived neutrophils and cultured murine macrophages. Finally, when mice were intratracheally infected with preopsonized clade 2 CRK. pneumoniae, these MAbs reduced bacterial dissemination to organs. Our data suggest that broadly reactive anticapsular antibodies and vaccines against clade 2 ST258 CRK. pneumoniaeare possible. Such MAbs and vaccines would benefit those susceptible populations at risk of infection with this group of multidrug-resistant bacteria.IMPORTANCECarbapenem-resistantKlebsiella pneumoniaeis an enteric bacterium that has been responsible for an increasing number of deadly outbreaks and hospital-acquired infections. The pathogen’s resistance to numerous antibiotics, including new drugs, leaves few therapeutic options available for infected patients, who often are too sick to fight the infection themselves. Immunotherapy utilizing monoclonal antibodies has been successful in other medical fields, and antibodies targeting the outer polysaccharide capsule of these bacteria could be a valuable treatment alternative. This study presents two anticapsular antibodies, 17H12 and 8F12, that were found to be protective against the most virulent carbapenem-resistantK. pneumoniaeclinical strains. These antibodies are shown to promote the killing of these strains through several extracellular and intracellular processes and prevent the spread of infection in mice from the lungs to distal organs. Thus, they could ultimately treat or protect patients infected or at risk of infection by this multidrug-resistant bacterium.

scholarly journals Identification of Capsular Types in Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains bywzcSequencing and Implications for Capsule Depolymerase Treatment

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 1038-1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Jiun Pan ◽  
Tzu-Lung Lin ◽  
Yi-Tsung Lin ◽  
Po-An Su ◽  
Chun-Tang Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Enzyme Treatment ◽  
Capsular Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Sequence Types

ABSTRACTKlebsiella pneumoniaeis an important human pathogen associated with a variety of diseases, and the prevalence of multidrug-resistantK. pneumoniae(MDRKP) is rapidly increasing. Here we determined the capsular types of 85 carbapenem-resistantK. pneumoniae(CRKP) strains bywzcsequencing and investigated the presence of carbapenemases and integrons among CRKP strains. Ten CRKP strains (12%) were positive for carbapenemase (imipenemase, 6/85 strains;K. pneumoniaecarbapenemase, 3/85 strains; Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase, 1/85 strains). Capsular type K64 accounted for 32 CRKP strains (38%), followed by K62 (13%), K24 (8%), KN2 (7%), and K28 (6%). Sequence types (STs) were determined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and the results indicated that ST11, which accounted for 47% of these CRKP strains (40/85 strains), was the major ST. We further isolated a K64-specific capsule depolymerase (K64dep), which could enhance serum and neutrophil killingin vitroand increase survival rates for K64K. pneumoniae-inoculated mice. The toxicity study demonstrated that mice treated with K64dep showed normal biochemical parameters and no significant histopathological changes of liver, kidney, and spleen, indicating that enzyme treatment did not cause toxicity in mice. Therefore, the findings of capsular type clustering among CRKP strains and effective treatment with capsule depolymerase for MDRKP infections are important for capsule-based vaccine development and therapy.

scholarly journals Tracking Nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae Infections and Outbreaks by Whole-Genome Analysis: Small-Scale Italian Scenario within a Single Hospital

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 2861-2868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaella Onori ◽  
Stefano Gaiarsa ◽  
Francesco Comandatore ◽  
Stefano Pongolini ◽  
Sylvain Brisse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Phylogenomic Analysis ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Whole Genome Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Single Clone

Multidrug-resistant (MDR)Klebsiella pneumoniaeis one of the most important causes of nosocomial infections worldwide. After the spread of strains resistant to beta-lactams at the end of the previous century, the diffusion of isolates resistant to carbapenems and colistin is now reducing treatment options and the containment of infections. Carbapenem-resistantK. pneumoniaestrains have spread rapidly among Italian hospitals, with four subclades of pandemic clonal group 258 (CG258). Here we show that a single Italian hospital has been invaded by three of these subclades within 27 months, thus replicating on a small scale the “Italian scenario.” We identified a single clone responsible for an epidemic outbreak involving seven patients, and we reconstructed its star-like pattern of diffusion within the intensive care unit. This epidemiological picture was obtained through phylogenomic analysis of 16 carbapenem-resistantK. pneumoniaeisolates collected in the hospital during a 27-month period, which were added to a database of 319 genomes representing the available global diversity ofK. pneumoniaestrains. Phenotypic and molecular assays did not reveal virulence or resistance determinants specific for the outbreak isolates. Other factors, rather than selective advantages, might have caused the outbreak. Finally, analyses allowed us to identify a major subclade of CG258 composed of strains bearing the yersiniabactin virulence factor. Our work demonstrates how the use of combined phenotypic, molecular, and whole-genome sequencing techniques can help to identify quickly and to characterize accurately the spread of MDR pathogens.

scholarly journals Klebsiella pneumoniae Reduces SUMOylation To Limit Host Defense Responses

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana Sá-Pessoa ◽  
Kornelia Przybyszewska ◽  
Filipe Nuno Vasconcelos ◽  
Amy Dumigan ◽  
Christian G. Frank ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Glycogen Synthase ◽  
Defense Responses ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Lung Epithelial Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Medical Needs

ABSTRACT Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important cause of multidrug-resistant infections worldwide. Understanding the virulence mechanisms of K. pneumoniae is a priority and timely to design new therapeutics. Here, we demonstrate that K. pneumoniae limits the SUMOylation of host proteins in epithelial cells and macrophages (mouse and human) to subvert cell innate immunity. Mechanistically, in lung epithelial cells, Klebsiella increases the levels of the deSUMOylase SENP2 in the cytosol by affecting its K48 ubiquitylation and its subsequent degradation by the ubiquitin proteasome. This is dependent on Klebsiella preventing the NEDDylation of the Cullin-1 subunit of the ubiquitin ligase complex E3-SCF-βTrCP by exploiting the CSN5 deNEDDylase. Klebsiella induces the expression of CSN5 in an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) signaling pathway-dependent manner. In macrophages, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-TRAM-TRIF-induced type I interferon (IFN) via IFN receptor 1 (IFNAR1)-controlled signaling mediates Klebsiella-triggered decrease in the levels of SUMOylation via let-7 microRNAs (miRNAs). Our results revealed the crucial role played by Klebsiella polysaccharides, the capsule, and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-polysaccharide, to decrease the levels of SUMO-conjugated proteins in epithelial cells and macrophages. A Klebsiella-induced decrease in SUMOylation promotes infection by limiting the activation of inflammatory responses and increasing intracellular survival in macrophages. IMPORTANCE Klebsiella pneumoniae has been singled out as an urgent threat to human health due to the increasing isolation of strains resistant to “last-line” antimicrobials, narrowing the treatment options against Klebsiella infections. Unfortunately, at present, we cannot identify candidate compounds in late-stage development for treatment of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella infections; this pathogen is exemplary of the mismatch between unmet medical needs and the current antimicrobial research and development pipeline. Furthermore, there is still limited evidence on K. pneumoniae pathogenesis at the molecular and cellular levels in the context of the interactions between bacterial pathogens and their hosts. In this research, we have uncovered a sophisticated strategy employed by Klebsiella to subvert the activation of immune defenses by controlling the modification of proteins. Our research may open opportunities to develop new therapeutics based on counteracting this Klebsiella-controlled immune evasion strategy.

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