Genetic characterization and passage instability of a novel hybrid virulence plasmid in a ST23 hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

Hypervirulent variants of Klebsiella pnuemoniae (hvKP), which causes life-threatening infections, is a global priority pathogen and frequently harbours virulence plasmids. The virulence plasmids have emerged as the predominant vehicles carrying the major pathogenic determinants of hypermucoviscosity and hypervirulence phenotypes. In the present study, we characterized a novel virulence plasmid in AP8555, an ST23 hvKP strain, which induced a metastatic infection and fatal septic shock in a critically ill patient. The serum killing assay, the quantitative biofilm formation assay, the G.mellonella infection model, and the mouse lethality assay demonstrated that AP8555 was almost as virulent as the hvKP strain NUTH-K2044. The plasmid pAP855 could be conjugated to Klebsiella quasipneumoniae ATCC700603 and E. coli J53 at a frequency of 7.2× 10−5 and 8.7× 10−7, respectively. Whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis confirmed that the plasmid was novel, clustered to the incompatibility type of IncHI1B/IncFIB/IncFII and presented high similarity to the pK2044 plasmid. In contrast, a 130-kb large-fragment insertion was observed on the plasmid, which introduced a genetic hybrid zone with multiple conjugation-related genes of type IV secretion systems (T4SS) and CcdAB toxin-antitoxin systems (TAS) to the plasmid. In the transconjugants, the presence of pAP855 had a negative impact on bacterial fitness, but enhancing the virulence-associated phenotypes. In vitro evolution experiments showed that pAP855 in the transconjugants could not be stably inherited after 10 days of passage. Our study not only reports a novel hybrid plasmid but also highlights the putative pathway of conjugative virulence plasmid formation and evolution by means of genetic rearrangement through sequence insertion. These findings indicate that structural versatility could contribute to the dissemination of cointegrate virulence plasmid, although the plasmid incurred a fitness cost. Therefore, continuous monitoring the acquisition of conjugative virulence plasmids may have critical value for plasmid research and increase awareness of hvKP.

In-depth analysis of Klebsiella aerogenes resistome, virulome and plasmidome worldwide

“…In fact, recently, a transposon harboring the aerobactin operon was identified in K. pneumoniae virulence plasmids 31 . Most of these plasmids harbor the rmp A/ rmp A2 genes, aerobactin, and salmochelin loci, which greatly enhance the virulence of K. pneumoniae strains 32 . Although salmochelin is strongly associated with aerobactin in K. pneumoniae 33 , this was not observed in K. aerogenes as iro was prevalent and iuc rare.…”

Molecular epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the type VI secretion system in Klebsiella pneumoniae causing abscesses

“…The most prevalent hvKp isolates were ST23 (36/70), and ST23 in T6SS-positive isolates was significantly higher than in the T6SS-negative isolates. ST23 is closely related to high virulence, and K. pneumoniae ST23 is considered an important pathogen that causes hospital-acquired infections in critical patients ( Lee et al, 2017 ; Hernandez et al, 2021 ; Du et al, 2022 ; Fan et al, 2022 ). These results suggest that the T6SS-positive K. pneumoniae strains are highly virulent.…”

For Someone, You Are the Whole World: Host-Specificity of Salmonella enterica

“…The acquisition of tra -containing plasmids shaped the evolution of Yersinia pestis [ 58 ] and Klebsiella sp. [ 59 ] through the emergence of distinct pathotypes ranging in virulence. Notably, we found plasmid stability genes, psiB and psiA , reported to be located in plasmids harboring prominent virulence factors as well [ 60 ].…”