Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Exhibit Variability in Capsular Polysaccharide and Capsule Associated Virulence Traits

摘要: Background. Novel therapies are urgently needed to treat carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kp)-mediated infection, which constitute a major health threat in the United States. In order assess if it is feasible develop anticapsular antibodies as potential novel therapy, crucial first systematically characterize capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and virulence traits these strains. Methods. Forty CR-Kp were genotyped by pulsed field gel electrophoresis, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), molecular capsule (C-patterns wzi sequencing). Their biofilm formation, serum resistance, macrophage-mediated killing, Galleria mellonella compared. MAb (1C9) was generated co-immunization with 2 CPSs, cross-reactivity investigated. Results. MLST assigned 80% of isolates ST258-clone. Molecular identified new C-patterns, including C200/wzi-154, widely represented associated blaKPC-3-bearing strains. Heterogeneity detected formation killing. Differences resistance correlated G. mellonella. ST258 strains carrying blaKPC-3 less virulent than those blaKPC-2. 1C9 cross-reacted 58% CPSs. Conclusions. CR-Kp exhibit variability virulence-associated traits. type KPC gene CPS. Identification cross-reacting anti-CPS mAbs encourages their development adjunctive therapy.