Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To explore the genomic resistance and virulence characteristics of 1 strains of
Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPN-1) with a rare phenotype of ceftazidime susceptibility and cefepime resistance and preliminarily analyze the genetic factors underlying its unusual antimicrobial susceptibility.
METHODS Strain KPN-1 was isolated from wound secretions of an elderly patient with multiple underlying diseases at Pidu District People's Hospital of Chengdu in 2023. The species were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and preliminary screening of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) were carried out by using the VITEK 2 Compact system, and the results were further verified via the Kirby-Bauer (K-B) method. Whole-genome high-precision sequencing was conducted on the Illumina and PacBio platforms. Subsequently, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), annotation of resistance and virulence genes, and phylogenetic analysis were completed. Data of ST700 strains around the globe were retrieved and analyzed based on the Pathogen. watch database.
RESULTS The strain was positive for phenotype of ESBL. It was susceptible to ceftazidime, carbapenems and amikacin, but it was resistant to cefepime. Its complete genome was 5.42 Mb in length and assigned to ST700. A total of 114 resistance-related genetic elements were annotated by using the CARD database, and 13 functionally characterized resistance genes including
blaSHV-187 were identified via AMRFinderPlus. Mutations were detected in coding regions such as
OmpK36 and
acrR. Totally 159 virulence-associated genes were found, and the strain harbored hypervirulence markers such as
rmpA and
iuc, with the string test positive. Only 14 ST700 strains have been included in global public databases, 7 of which were isolated in China.
CONCLUSIONS The study supplements the genomic data of the
K. pneumoniae ST700 strain carrying
blaSHV-187 with a ceftazidime-susceptible and cefepime-resistant phenotype. The prediction of drug resistance mechanisms of the strain may provide references for subsequent experiments, antimicrobial resistance surveillance and clinical anti-infection treatment.