Klebsiella pneumoniae FimK Promotes Virulence in Murine Pneumonia

摘要: Klebsiella pneumoniae, a chief cause of nosocomial pneumonia, is versatile and commonly multidrug-resistant human pathogen for which further insight into pathogenesis needed. We show that the pilus regulatory gene fimK promotes virulence K. pneumoniae strain TOP52 in murine pneumonia. This contrasts with attenuating effect on urinary tract virulence, illustrating single factor may exert opposing effects distinct host niches. Loss pneumonia was associated diminished lung bacterial burden, limited innate responses within lung, improved survival. FimK expression shown to promote serum resistance, capsule production, protection from phagocytosis by immune cells. Finally, while widely used model 43816 produces rapid dissemination death mice, caused largely localized lethality, thereby providing an alternative tool studying control lung.