TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of Klebsiella pneumoniae pathogenicity through holistic gene content analysis
AU - Isogai, Miyu
AU - Kawamura, Kumiko
AU - Yagi, Tetsuya
AU - Kayama, Shizuo
AU - Sugai, Motoyuki
AU - Doi, Yohei
AU - Suzuki, Masahiro
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes both community-and healthcare-associated infections. Although various virulence factors and highly pathogenic phenotypes have been reported, the pathogenicity of K. pneumoniae is still not fully understood. In this study, we utilized whole-genome sequencing data of 168 clinical K. pneumoniae strains to assess pathogenicity. This work was based on the concept that the genetic composition of individual genomes (referred to as holistic gene content) of the strains may contribute to their pathogenicity. Holistic gene content analysis revealed two distinct groups of K. pneumoniae strains (‘major group’ and ‘minor group’). The minor group included strains with known highly pathogenic clones (ST23, ST375, ST65 and ST86). The minor group had higher rates of capsular genotype K1 and presence of nine specific virulence genes (rmpA, iucA, iutA, irp2, fyuA, ybtS, iroN, allS and clbA) compared to the major group. Pathogenicity was assessed using Galleria mellonella larvae. Infection experiments revealed lower survival rates of larvae infected with strains from the minor group, indicating higher virulence. In addition, the minor group had a higher string test positivity rate than the major group. Holistic gene content analysis predicted possession of virulence genes, string test positivity and pathogenicity as observed in the G. mellonella infection model. Moreover, the findings suggested the presence of as yet unrecognized genomic elements that are either involved in the acquisition of virulence genes or associated with pathogenicity.
AB - Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes both community-and healthcare-associated infections. Although various virulence factors and highly pathogenic phenotypes have been reported, the pathogenicity of K. pneumoniae is still not fully understood. In this study, we utilized whole-genome sequencing data of 168 clinical K. pneumoniae strains to assess pathogenicity. This work was based on the concept that the genetic composition of individual genomes (referred to as holistic gene content) of the strains may contribute to their pathogenicity. Holistic gene content analysis revealed two distinct groups of K. pneumoniae strains (‘major group’ and ‘minor group’). The minor group included strains with known highly pathogenic clones (ST23, ST375, ST65 and ST86). The minor group had higher rates of capsular genotype K1 and presence of nine specific virulence genes (rmpA, iucA, iutA, irp2, fyuA, ybtS, iroN, allS and clbA) compared to the major group. Pathogenicity was assessed using Galleria mellonella larvae. Infection experiments revealed lower survival rates of larvae infected with strains from the minor group, indicating higher virulence. In addition, the minor group had a higher string test positivity rate than the major group. Holistic gene content analysis predicted possession of virulence genes, string test positivity and pathogenicity as observed in the G. mellonella infection model. Moreover, the findings suggested the presence of as yet unrecognized genomic elements that are either involved in the acquisition of virulence genes or associated with pathogenicity.
KW - Galleria mellonella
KW - genomes
KW - Klebsiella pneumoniae
KW - virulence
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U2 - 10.1099/mgen.0.001295
DO - 10.1099/mgen.0.001295
M3 - Article
C2 - 39298254
AN - SCOPUS:85204512156
SN - 2057-5858
VL - 10
JO - Microbial genomics
JF - Microbial genomics
IS - 9
M1 - 001295
ER -