scholarly journals Network Integrative Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Carbapenem-ResistantKlebsiella pneumoniaeStrains Identifies Genes for Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence

mSystems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muyoung Lee ◽  
Naina Adren Pinto ◽  
Chan Yeong Kim ◽  
Sunmo Yang ◽  
Roshan D’Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Carbapenem Resistance ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Functional Modules ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Functional Association ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Tract Infections

ABSTRACTGlobal increases in the use of carbapenems have resulted in several strains of Gram-negative bacteria acquiring carbapenem resistance, thereby limiting treatment options.Klebsiella pneumoniaeis a common carbapenem-resistant pathogenic bacterium that is widely studied to identify novel antibiotic resistance mechanisms and drug targets. Antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates generally harbor many genetic alterations, and the identification of responsible mutations would provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. We propose a method to prioritize mutated genes responsible for antibiotic resistance on the basis of expression changes in their local subnetworks, hypothesizing that mutated genes that show significant expression changes among the corresponding functionally associated genes are more likely to be involved in the carbapenem resistance. For network-based gene prioritization, we developed KlebNet (www.inetbio.org/klebnet), a genome-scale cofunctional network ofK. pneumoniaegenes. Using KlebNet, we reconstructed the functional modules for carbapenem resistance and virulence and identified the functional association between antibiotic resistance and virulence. Using complementation assays with the top candidate genes, we were able to validate a novel gene that negatively regulated carbapenem resistance and four novel genes that positively regulated virulence inGalleria mellonellalarvae. Therefore, our study demonstrated the feasibility of network-based identification of genes required for antibiotic resistance and virulence of human-pathogenic bacteria.IMPORTANCEKlebsiella pneumoniaeis a major bacterial pathogen that causes pneumonia and urinary tract infections in human.K. pneumoniaeinfections are treated with carbapenem, but carbapenem-resistantK. pneumoniaehas been spreading worldwide. We are able to identify antimicrobial-resistant genes among mutated genes of the antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates. However, they usually harbor many mutated genes, including those that cause weak or neutral functional effects. Therefore, we need to prioritize the mutated genes to identify the more likely candidates for the follow-up functional analysis. For this study, we present a functional network ofK. pneumoniaegenes and propose a network-based method of prioritizing the mutated genes of the resistant clinical isolates. We also reconstructed the network-based functional modules for carbapenem resistance and virulence and retrieved the functional association between antibiotic resistance and virulence. This study demonstrated the feasibility of network-based analysis of clinical genomics data for the study ofK. pneumoniaeinfection.

scholarly journals Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Urinary Tract Infection following Solid Organ Transplantation

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 553-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle D. Brizendine ◽  
Sandra S. Richter ◽  
Eric D. Cober ◽  
David van Duin
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Solid Organ Transplantation ◽  
Organ Transplant ◽  
Carbapenem Resistance ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Solid Organ ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Tract Infections

ABSTRACTCarbapenem-resistantKlebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP) is an emerging pathogen with a devastating impact on organ transplant recipients (OTRs). Data describing urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to CRKP, compared to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and susceptibleK. pneumoniae, are lacking. We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing OTRs with a first episode of UTI due to CRKP, ESBL-producingK. pneumoniae, or susceptibleK. pneumoniae. We identified 108 individuals; 22 (20%) had UTIs due to CRKP, 22 (20%) due to ESBL-producingK. pneumoniae, and 64 (60%) due to susceptibleK. pneumoniae. Compared to susceptibleK. pneumoniae(27%), patients with UTIs due to CRKP or ESBL-producingK. pneumoniaewere more likely to have a ≥24-hour stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) before or after development of the UTI (64% and 77%, respectively;P< 0.001). Among 105/108 hospitalized patients (97%), the median lengths of stay prior to UTI with CRKP or ESBL-producingK. pneumoniae(7 and 8 days, respectively) were significantly longer than that for susceptibleK. pneumoniae(1 day;P< 0.001). Clinical failure was observed for 8 patients (36%) with CRKP, 4 (18%) with ESBL-producingK. pneumoniae, and 9 (14%) with susceptibleK. pneumoniae(P= 0.073). Microbiological failure was seen for 10 patients (45%) with CRKP, compared with 2 (9%) with ESBL-producingK. pneumoniaeand 2 (3%) with susceptibleK. pneumoniae(P< 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, CRKP was associated with greater odds of microbiological failure (versus ESBL-producingK. pneumoniae: odds ratio [OR], 9.36, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.94 to 72.1; versus susceptibleK. pneumoniae: OR, 31.4, 95% CI, 5.91 to 264). In conclusion, CRKP is associated with ICU admission, long length of stay, and microbiological failure among OTRs with UTIs. Greater numbers are needed to determine risk factors for infection and differences in meaningful endpoints associated with carbapenem resistance.

scholarly journals A Serendipitous Mutation Reveals the Severe Virulence Defect of a Klebsiella pneumoniae fepB Mutant

mSphere ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Palacios ◽  
Christopher A. Broberg ◽  
Kimberly A. Walker ◽  
Virginia L. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Carbapenem Resistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hospital Acquired Infections ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Hospital Acquired ◽  
Rapid Emergence

ABSTRACT In addition to having a reputation as the causative agent of several types of hospital-acquired infections, Klebsiella pneumoniae has gained widespread attention as a pathogen with a propensity for acquiring antibiotic resistance. It is capable of causing a range of infections, including urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and sepsis. Because of the rapid emergence of carbapenem resistance among Klebsiella strains, there is a dire need for a better understanding of virulence mechanisms and identification of new drug targets. Here, we identify the periplasmic transporter FepB as one such potential target. Klebsiella pneumoniae is considered a significant public health threat because of the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains and the challenge associated with treating life-threatening infections. Capsule, siderophores, and adhesins have been implicated as virulence determinants of K. pneumoniae, yet we lack a clear understanding of how this pathogen causes disease. In a previous screen for virulence genes, we identified a potential new virulence locus and constructed a mutant (smr) with this locus deleted. In this study, we characterize the smr mutant and show that this mutation renders K. pneumoniae avirulent in a pneumonia model of infection. The smr mutant was expected to have a deletion of three genes, but subsequent genome sequencing indicated that a much larger deletion had occurred. Further analysis of the deleted region indicated that the virulence defect of the smr mutant could be attributed to the loss of FepB, a periplasmic protein required for import of the siderophore enterobactin. Interestingly, a ΔfepB mutant was more attenuated than a mutant unable to synthesize enterobactin, suggesting that additional processes are affected. As FepB is highly conserved among the members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, therapeutic targeting of FepB may be useful for the treatment of Klebsiella and other bacterial infections. IMPORTANCE In addition to having a reputation as the causative agent of several types of hospital-acquired infections, Klebsiella pneumoniae has gained widespread attention as a pathogen with a propensity for acquiring antibiotic resistance. It is capable of causing a range of infections, including urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and sepsis. Because of the rapid emergence of carbapenem resistance among Klebsiella strains, there is a dire need for a better understanding of virulence mechanisms and identification of new drug targets. Here, we identify the periplasmic transporter FepB as one such potential target.

scholarly journals The Role of ZntA in Klebsiella pneumoniae Zinc Homeostasis

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eve A. Maunders ◽  
Katherine Ganio ◽  
Andrew J. Hayes ◽  
Stephanie L. Neville ◽  
Mark R. Davies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Zinc Homeostasis ◽  
Healthcare Associated Infections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Healthcare Associated

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and sepsis. Treatment of K. pneumoniae infections is becoming increasingly challenging due to high levels of antibiotic resistance and the rising prevalence of carbapenem-resistant, extended-spectrum β-lactamases producing strains.

scholarly journals Contribution of β-Lactamases and Porin Proteins OmpK35 and OmpK36 to Carbapenem Resistance in Clinical Isolates of KPC-2-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 1214-1217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Xiaofei Jiang ◽  
Yanyan Wang ◽  
Gang Li ◽  
Yueru Tian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Carbapenem Resistance ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Sds Page ◽  
Porin Proteins ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Sequence Types ◽  
M 14

ABSTRACTFifty-seven carbapenem-resistantKlebsiella pneumoniaeisolates belonging to ST11 (50 isolates), ST423 (5 isolates), and two other sequence types were studied. All were positive forblaKPC-2,blaTEM-1, andblaCTX-M-14. SDS-PAGE analysis of six representative isolates demonstrated varied porin expression. Nevertheless, whenblaKPC-2was deleted, carbapenem resistance was markedly reduced. Additionally, SHV-12, DHA-1, and/or VIM-1 appeared to contribute to accessory carbapenemase activity. In contrast, OmpK35 and/or OmpK36 deficiency seemed to serve only as a minor cooperative factor.

scholarly journals Comparative Genomics of Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains with Different Antibiotic Resistance Profiles

2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 4267-4276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinod Kumar ◽  
Peng Sun ◽  
Jessica Vamathevan ◽  
Yong Li ◽  
Karen Ingraham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Susceptible Strain ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Extended Spectrum

ABSTRACTThere is a global emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains ofKlebsiella pneumoniae, a Gram-negative enteric bacterium that causes nosocomial and urinary tract infections. While the epidemiology ofK. pneumoniaestrains and occurrences of specific antibiotic resistance genes, such as plasmid-borne extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), have been extensively studied, only four complete genomes ofK. pneumoniaeare available. To better understand the multidrug resistance factors inK. pneumoniae, we determined by pyrosequencing the nearly complete genome DNA sequences of two strains with disparate antibiotic resistance profiles, broadly drug-susceptible strain JH1 and strain 1162281, which is resistant to multiple clinically used antibiotics, including extended-spectrum β-lactams, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, trimethoprim, and sulfamethoxazoles. Comparative genomic analysis of JH1, 1162281, and other publishedK. pneumoniaegenomes revealed a core set of 3,631 conserved orthologous proteins, which were used for reconstruction of whole-genome phylogenetic trees. The close evolutionary relationship between JH1 and 1162281 relative to otherK. pneumoniaestrains suggests that a large component of the genetic and phenotypic diversity of clinical isolates is due to horizontal gene transfer. Using curated lists of over 400 antibiotic resistance genes, we identified all of the elements that differentiated the antibiotic profile of MDR strain 1162281 from that of susceptible strain JH1, such as the presence of additional efflux pumps, ESBLs, and multiple mechanisms of fluoroquinolone resistance. Our study adds new and significant DNA sequence data onK. pneumoniaestrains and demonstrates the value of whole-genome sequencing in characterizing multidrug resistance in clinical isolates.

scholarly journals Dynamics of blaKPC-2 Dissemination from Non-CG258 Klebsiella pneumoniae to Other Enterobacterales via IncN Plasmids in an Area of High Endemicity

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana M. Rada ◽  
Elsa De La Cadena ◽  
Carlos Agudelo ◽  
Cesar Capataz ◽  
Nataly Orozco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Carbapenem Resistance ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Long Read

ABSTRACT Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) pose a significant threat to global public health. The most important mechanism for carbapenem resistance is the production of carbapenemases. Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) represents one of the main carbapenemases worldwide. Complex mechanisms of blaKPC dissemination have been reported in Colombia, a country with a high endemicity of carbapenem resistance. Here, we characterized the dynamics of dissemination of blaKPC gene among CRE infecting and colonizing patients in three hospitals localized in a highly endemic area of Colombia (2013 and 2015). We identified the genomic characteristics of KPC-producing Enterobacterales recovered from patients infected/colonized and reconstructed the dynamics of dissemination of blaKPC-2 using both short and long read sequencing. We found that spread of blaKPC-2 among Enterobacterales in the participating hospitals was due to intra- and interspecies horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mediated by promiscuous plasmids associated with transposable elements that was originated from a multispecies outbreak of KPC-producing Enterobacterales in a neonatal intensive care unit. The plasmids were detected in isolates recovered in other units within the same hospital and nearby hospitals. The gene “epidemic” was driven by IncN-pST15-type plasmids carrying a novel Tn4401b structure and non-Tn4401 elements (NTEKPC) in Klebsiella spp., Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., and Citrobacter spp. Of note, mcr-9 was found to coexist with blaKPC-2 in species of the Enterobacter cloacae complex. Our findings suggest that the main mechanism for dissemination of blaKPC-2 is HGT mediated by highly transferable plasmids among species of Enterobacterales in infected/colonized patients, presenting a major challenge for public health interventions in developing countries such as Colombia.

scholarly journals 610. Meropenem-vaborbactam (MV) In Vitro Activity Against Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) Isolates with Outer Membrane Porin Gene Mutations

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S285-S285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Yasmin ◽  
Steven Marshall ◽  
Michael Jacobs ◽  
Daniel D Rhoads ◽  
Laura J Rojas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Historical Cohort ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Outer Membrane Porin ◽  
Tract Infections

Abstract Background Vaborbactam is a cyclic boronic acid β-lactamase inhibitor (BLI) developed to potently inhibit Ambler class A&C enzymes, including KPC carbapenemases. Metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) and some Class D oxacillinases (OXA) are not inactivated by vaborbactam. Meropenem-vaborbactam (MV) was recently approved for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae complicated urinary tract infections. Recent studies have identified outer membrane porin (Ompk35 and -36) mutations in Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) as a mechanism of decreased susceptibility to MV. We evaluated the activity of MV against a historical cohort of KP clinical isolates with these porin gene mutations. Methods WGS of carbapenem-resistant KP clinical isolates was performed and those harboring mutations in Ompk35 or Ompk36 were selected for testing. Strain KP ATCC BAA-1705 was used as a positive control. Meropenem and MV minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined by broth microdilution (BMD) in custom 96-well plates (ThermoFisher Scientific) with a constant 8 µg/mL vaborbactam concentration. The MIC of ceftazidime–avibactam (CZA) was determined by standard BMD reference methods and interpreted according to CLSI criteria. Results A total of 105 KP isolates with either partial or complete mutations in outer membrane porin genes were included in the analysis. All isolates were resistant to Meropenem. The median MV MIC was 0.03 µg/mL (range, 0.015 to >16 µg/mL). Eleven isolates (10.4%) were resistant to MV. Sixteen additional isolates (16.1%) demonstrated higher than expected MV MICs ranging from 1 to 4 µg/mL. Only 1/11 resistant isolates harbored a gene for MBL production. Gene mutations in blaKPC were not detected. See Table 1 for characteristics of resistant isolates. Conclusion Resistance and decreased susceptibility to MV is demonstrated in a historical cohort of KP clinical isolates dating back to 2013. WGS reliably identifies porin variants secondary to gene mutations in Ompk35 and Ompk36 as the underlying mechanism of decreased susceptibility. CZA appears to retain activity against these isolates. Caution should be exercised regarding the empiric use of MV against increasingly resistant KP as a result of non-β-lactamase-mediated mechanisms. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Molecular and phenotypic characterization of clinical isolates belonging to a KPC-2-producing strain of ST15 Klebsiella pneumoniae from a Vietnamese pediatric hospital

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Berglund ◽  
Ngoc Thi Bich Hoang ◽  
Maria Tärnberg ◽  
Ngai Kien Le ◽  
Maud Nilsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Resistance Rate ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Polymorphism Analysis ◽  
Pediatric Hospital ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Global Epidemiology

Abstract Background Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae are becoming increasingly common in hospital settings worldwide and are a source of increased morbidity, mortality and health care costs. The global epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae is characterized by different strains distributed geographically, with the strain ST258 being predominant in Europe and USA, and ST11 being most common in East Asia. ST15 is a less frequently occurring strain but has nevertheless been reported worldwide as a source of hospital outbreaks of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae. Methods In this study, whole-genome sequencing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was used to characterize 57 clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae belonging to a strain of ST15, which were collected at a Vietnamese pediatric hospital from February throughout September 2015. Results Aside from the carbapenem resistance gene blaKPC-2, which was carried by all isolates, prevalence of resistance genes to other antibiotics including aminoglycosides, macrolides, quinolones, fosfomycin and trimethoprim, was also high. All isolates were multidrug-resistant. Susceptibility was highest to ceftazidime/avibactam (96%), gentamicin (91%) and tigecycline (82%). Notably, the colistin resistance rate was very high (42%). Single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis indicated that most isolates belonged to a single clone. Conclusions The diverse variety of antibiotic resistance genes and the high antibiotic resistance rates to last-resort antibiotics such as carbapenems and colistin, is indicative of a highly adaptable strain. This emphasizes the importance of implementation of infection controls measures, continued monitoring of antibiotic resistance and prudent use of antibiotics to prevent further selection of resistant strains and the emergence of pan-resistant clones.

scholarly journals Accumulation of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates Belonging to Lineage 2, Global Clone 1, from Outbreaks in 2012–2013 at a Tehran Burns Hospital

mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masoumeh Douraghi ◽  
Johanna J. Kenyon ◽  
Parisa Aris ◽  
Mahla Asadian ◽  
Sedighe Ghourchian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Acinetobacter Baumannii ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Carbapenem Resistance ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
East Region ◽  
Lineage 2 ◽  
Middle East Region

ABSTRACT The worldwide distribution of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has become a global concern, particularly in countries where antibiotic prescription is not tightly regulated. However, knowledge of the genomic aspects of CRAB from many parts of the world is still limited. Here, 50 carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates recovered at a single hospital in Tehran, Iran, during several outbreaks in 2012 and 2013 were found to be resistant to multiple antibiotics. They were examined using PCR mapping and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). All Iranian strains belonged to sequence type 328 in the Institut Pasteur MLST scheme (ST328IP), a single-locus variant of ST81IP, and all Iranian strains contained two carbapenem resistance genes, oxa23 and oxa24. The oxa23 gene is in the transposon Tn2006 in AbaR4, which interrupts the chromosomal comM gene. Phylogenetic analysis using whole-genome sequence (WGS) data for 9 isolates showed that they belonged to the same clade, designated the ST81/ST328 clade, within lineage 2 of global clone 1 (GC1). However, there were two groups that included either KL13 or KL18 at the K locus (KL) for capsular polysaccharide synthesis and either a tet39 or an aadB resistance gene, respectively. The genetic context of the resistance genes was determined, and the oxa24 (OXA-72 variant) and tet39 (tetracycline resistance) genes were each in a pdif module in different plasmids. The aadB gene cassette (which encodes gentamicin, kanamycin, and tobramycin resistance) was harbored by pRAY*, and the aphA6 gene (which encodes amikacin resistance) and sul2 gene (which encodes sulfamethoxazole resistance) were each harbored by a different plasmid. The sequences obtained here will underpin future studies of GC1 CRAB strains from the Middle East region. IMPORTANCE Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains are among the most critical antibiotic-resistant bacteria causing hospital-acquired infections and treatment failures. The global spread of two clones has been responsible for the bulk of the resistance, in particular, carbapenem resistance. However, there is a substantial gap in our knowledge of which clones and which specific lineages within each clone are circulating in many parts of the world, including Africa and the Middle East region. This is the first genomic analysis of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strains from Iran. All the isolates, from a single hospital, belonged to lineage 2 of global clone 1 (GC1) but fell into two groups distinguished by genes in the locus for capsule biosynthesis. The analysis suggests a potential origin of multiply antibiotic-resistant lineage 2 in the Middle East region and highlights the ongoing evolution of carbapenem-resistant GC1 A. baumannii strains. It will enhance future studies on the local and global GC1 population structure.

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.

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