Immunobiological properties and therapeutic effectiveness of preparations from Klebsiella bacteriophages]

The purified preparations of Klebsiella bacteriophages, viz. the monovalent preparation of K. pneumoniae bacteriophage and the polyvalent bacteriophage preparation for the treatment of infections caused by K. ozaenae, K. rhinoscleromatis scleromatis and K. pneumoniae sensu lato, have been obtained. The bacteriophage preparations have proved to be nontoxic and safe for laboratory animals after the intraperitoneal injection of these preparations followed by the pathomorphological study of the internal organs of the animals. The clinical study of the newly developed bacteriophage preparations in the course of the treatment of purulent inflammatory diseases in 109 patients has revealed that the preparations are not reactogenic and exhibit sufficient effectiveness in the therapy of ozena, rhinoscleroma and Klebsiella infections with different localization of the infectious process.     

Multiplex-PCR assay for identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates carrying the cps loci for K1 and K2 capsule biosynthesis.

Multiplex-PCR assay for identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates carrying gene clusters for biosynthesis of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) types K1 and K2 was developed. Genes wzc and orf10 of the cps cluster were applied as K1 and K2 specific markers respectively. The assay specificity was confirmed using 147 isolates of Klebsiella spp. including 77 K-antigen reference strains. The multiplex-PCR assay was found simple and cost-effective tool for identification of K. pneumoniae clinical isolates of K1 and K2 geno-serotypes.     

Application of PCR ribotyping and tDNA-PCR for Klebsiella pneumoniae identification

PCR analysis of 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (PCR ribotyping) and tRNA intergenic spacer (tDNA-PCR) were evaluated for their effectiveness in identification of clinical strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and differentiation with related species. For this purpose both methods were applied to forty-three clinical isolates biochemically identified as K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae isolated from patients clinical specimens attended at five hospitals in three Brazilian cities. References strains of K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae, K. pneumoniae subsp. ozaenae, K. oxytoca, K. planticola and Enterobacter aerogenes were also analyzed. Both PCR methods showed specific patterns for each species. A conserved PCR ribotype pattern was observed for all clinical K. pneumoniae isolates, while differing from other related analyzed species. tDNA-PCR revealed five distinct patterns among the K. pneumoniae clinical isolates studied, demonstrating a predominant group with 90.6% of isolates presenting the same pattern of K. pneumoniae type strain. Both PCR-based methods were not able to differentiate K. pneumoniae subspecies. On the basis of the results obtained, both methods were efficient to differentiate the Klebsiella species analyzed, as well as E. aerogenes. Meanwhile tDNA-PCR revealed different tRNA arrangements in K. pneumoniae, suggesting intra-species heterogeneity of their genome organization, the polymorphism of the intergenic spacers between 16S and 23S rRNA genes appears to be highly conserved whithin K. pneumoniae clinical isolates, showing that PCR ribotyping can be an useful tool for identification of K. pneumoniae isolates.     

The antilysozyme activity of bacteria in the genus Klebsiella

The ability to inactivate lysozyme was found in representatives of three species of the genus Klebsiella bacteria: K. pneumoniae (117 strains), K. rhinoscleromatis (104 strains), K. ozaenae (90 cultures). The test cultures displayed a different antilysozyme activity, inactivating from 2 to 30 micrograms/ml of the enzyme. Taking into account the lysozyme role in the immunity and chitin synthesis processes in the organism of insects, the inactivation of the enzyme by Klebsiella may be considered as one of possible mechanisms of the entomopathogenic action of these bacteria.     

Genetic characterization of the Klebsiella pneumoniae waa gene cluster, involved in core lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis

A recombinant cosmid containing genes involved in Klebsiella pneumoniae C3 core lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis was identified by its ability to confer bacteriocin 28b resistance to Escherichia coli K-12. The recombinant cosmid contains 12 genes, the whole waa gene cluster, flanked by kbl and coaD genes, as was found in E. coli K-12. PCR amplification analysis showed that this cluster is conserved in representative K. pneumoniae strains. Partial nucleotide sequence determination showed that the same genes and gene order are found in K. pneumoniae subsp. ozaenae, for which the core chemical structure is known. Complementation analysis of known waa mutants from E. coli K-12 and/or Salmonella enterica led to the identification of genes involved in biosynthesis of the inner core backbone that are shared by these three members of the Enterobacteriaceae. K. pneumoniae orf10 mutants showed a two-log-fold reduction in a mice virulence assay and a strong decrease in capsule amount. Analysis of a constructed K. pneumoniae waaE deletion mutant suggests that the WaaE protein is involved in the transfer of the branch beta-D-Glc to the O-4 position of L-glycero-D-manno-heptose I, a feature shared by K. pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Yersinia enterocolitica.     

The compositional characteristics of the cellular fatty acids in strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae serovar K 1

Klebsiella pneumoniae, serovar K1 strains, differ essentially in the composition of cellular fatty acids from serovar strains K 2, K 3, K 7-K 72, K 74-K 80 of this species and are analogous to K. rhinoscleromatis and K. ozaenae by the given trait. The differences concern the concentration of cyclopropane fatty acids and their biosynthetic precursors--monounsaturated fatty acids, that is typical of a number of other bacteria belonging to the related species and, evidently, may be a marker of phenetic differences at the level of related taxonomic groups. The data obtained evidence for taxonomic separation of K. pneumoniae serovar K1 strains from representatives of other serovars of the given species.     

The Klebsiella pneumoniae wabG gene: role in biosynthesis of the core lipopolysaccharide and virulence

To determine the function of the wabG gene in the biosynthesis of the core lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Klebsiella pneumoniae, we constructed wabG nonpolar mutants. Data obtained from the comparative chemical and structural analysis of LPS samples obtained from the wild type, the mutant strain, and the complemented mutant demonstrated that the wabG gene is involved in attachment to alpha-L-glycero-D-manno-heptopyranose II (L,D-HeppII) at the O-3 position of an alpha-D-galactopyranosyluronic acid (alpha-D-GalAp) residue. K. pneumoniae nonpolar wabG mutants were devoid of the cell-attached capsular polysaccharide but were still able to produce capsular polysaccharide. Similar results were obtained with K. pneumoniae nonpolar waaC and waaF mutants, which produce shorter LPS core molecules than do wabG mutants. Other outer core K. pneumoniae nonpolar mutants in the waa gene cluster were encapsulated. K. pneumoniae waaC, waaF, and wabG mutants were avirulent when tested in different animal models. Furthermore, these mutants were more sensitive to some hydrophobic compounds than the wild-type strains. All these characteristics were rescued by reintroduction of the waaC, waaF, and wabG genes from K. pneumoniae.     

Incidence of Klebsiella species in surface waters and their expression of virulence factors.

To investigate the occurrence of different Klebsiella spp. in aquatic environments, a total of 208 samples of natural surface waters was examined. From half (53%) of these samples, 123 Klebsiella strains were isolated, the most common species being Klebsiella pneumoniae. A comparison of these isolates to a group of 207 clinical K. pneumoniae isolates demonstrated that water isolates of K. pneumoniae, unlike those of K. oxytoca and K. planticola, are as capable as clinical isolates of expressing putative virulence factors such as serum resistance and capsular polysaccharides, pili, and siderophores.     

Ammonia enhanced dark respiration in Chlorella vulgaris is related to collapse of a transmembrane pH gradient

Abstract We obtained, by different methods, isogenic lipopolysaccharide (O antigen) and capsular polysaccharide (K antigen) mutants from Klebsiella pneumoniae strains able to induce experimental infections (cytitis and pyelonephritis) in rats. We compared the induction of experimental infections in rats by wild-type strains and the lipopolysaccharide and capsular polysaccharide mutants. The high-molecular mass lipopolysaccharide of K. pneumoniae is clearly implicated in the infection process of the rat urinary tract, whilst the capsular polysaccharide seems not to be involved to the same extent.     

肺炎克雷伯杆菌对氟喹诺酮耐药的机制研究

目的研究肺炎克雷伯杆菌对氟喹诺酮类药物（FQNs）的耐药机制。方法筛选临床分离的对环丙沙星耐药的肺炎克雷伯杆菌共10株,采用微量肉汤稀释法检测菌株对5种氟喹诺酮类药物的MIC值;采用PCR方法检测菌株染色体和质粒携带的喹诺酮耐药基因（gyrA基因、parC基因和qnr基因）并测序;质粒接合试验验证qnr基因的转移性。结果 10株肺炎克雷伯杆菌对5种氟喹诺酮类药物均产生耐药性。扩增产物经测序发现10株肺炎克雷伯杆菌染色体的gyrA基因和parC基因均有突变;有2株菌株（K79和K107）携带qnrA基因,这2株菌的接合菌对喹诺酮抗菌药的MIC值上升了5～30倍;未检测到qnrB阳性的菌株。结论 gyrA和parC基因突变是肺炎克雷菌对氟喹诺酮类产生耐药机制的主要原因,质粒上qnrA基因的存在,也是产生喹诺酮耐药的一个重要因素。     

血流感染产ESBLs肺炎克雷伯菌毒力基因及 分子分型研究

目的研究血流感染产ESBLs肺炎克雷伯菌的毒力基因和基因分型特点。方法采用PCR检测菌株中高毒力因子、荚膜血清型以及ST分型;采用微量肉汤稀释法对菌株进行药敏试验;采用加克拉维酸的复合药(头孢他啶/克拉维酸或头孢噻肟/克拉维酸)与单药(头孢噻肟或头孢他啶)的药敏纸片组合进行肺炎克雷伯菌产ESBLs的表型确证试验。结果 128株血流感染肺炎克雷伯菌中,有23株产ESBLs(产ESBLs组),占17.97%(23/128);105株不产ESBLs(非产ESBLs组),占82.03%(105/125)。本地区血流感染肺炎克雷伯菌主要流行ST型别为ST23、ST65、ST37和ST29,其中ST23、ST29、ST65为非产ESBLs的优势ST型别菌株,而在产ESBLs菌株中无优势型别。两组菌在高黏液表型、荚膜血清型和毒力基因分布上差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。产EBSLs组中发现8株高毒力产EBSLs肺炎克雷伯菌。结论临床诊疗中需在肺炎克雷伯菌耐药株中识别出高毒力肺炎克雷伯菌并给与及时的治疗,避免其并发症的发生。     

A specific property of bacteria in the genus Klebsiella--a color reaction with 5-aminosalicylic acid in the nutrient medium

For the first time bacteria of the genus Klebsiella have been found to possess a specific property, characteristic of this genus only, i.e. the capacity of giving color reaction with 5-aminosalicylic acid. This reaction can be observed in all Klebsiella species under study: K. pneumoniae (94.4 +/- 2.3%), K. ozaenae (93.3 +/- 4.5%), K. rhinoscleromatis (100%), K. oxytoca (88.0 +/- 4.9%), K. mobilis (92-5 +/- 4.3% of the strains). In all other bacteria under study (40 species, 22 genera and 7 families) the reaction is negative. The test for the color reaction with 5-aminosalicylic acid confirms the belonging of K. mobilis (Enterobacter aerogenes) to the genus Klebsiella, thus making it possible to simplify and accelerate the identification of Klebsiella.     

The influence of the O-antigen and the capsular polysaccharide on the establishment of PlCmts lysogeny in Klebsiella pneumoniae

The O-antigen of the lipopolysaccharide in Klebsiella pneumoniae caused a significant reduction in the frequency of establishment of PlCmts lysogeny, while the capsular polysaccharide showed no effect on this frequency. The bacterial receptor for PlCmts are the lipopolysaccharide-core oligosaccharides, the results suggest that K. pneumoniae strains with an O-antigen in their lipopolysaccharide have a poorly accessible lipopolysaccharide-core (the PlCmts bacterial receptor), while K. pneumoniae strains lacking the O-antigen have a highly accessible lipopolysaccharide-core. The accessibility of the receptor is independent of the K antigen (capsular polysaccharide).     

Fermentation and evaluation of Klebsiella pneumoniae and K. oxytoca on the production of 2,3-butanediol

Klebsiella is one of the genera that has shown unbeatable production performance of 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD), when compared to other microorganisms. In this study, two Klebsiella strains, K. pneumoniae (DSM 2026) and K. oxytoca (ATCC 43863), were selected and evaluated for 2,3-BD production by batch and fed-batch fermentations using glucose as a carbon source. Those strains' morphologies, particularly their capsular structures, were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The maximum titers of 2,3-BD by K. pneumoniae and K. oxytoca during 10 h batch fermentation were 17.6 and 10.9 g L(-1), respectively; in fed-batch cultivation, the strains showed the maximum titers of 50.9 and 34.1 g L(-1), respectively. Although K. pneumoniae showed higher productivity, SEM showed that it secreted large amounts of capsular polysaccharide, increasing pathogenicity and hindering the separation of cells from the fermentation broth during downstream processing.     

长沙某医院产质粒AmpC酶型肺炎克雷伯菌的多重PCR检测与分析

为了了解湖南长沙某医院临床分离的肺炎克雷伯菌中质粒介导AmpC β-内酰胺酶的产生情况及其基因型,收集了该医院2008年3月至2010年10月临床分离的多重耐药肺炎克雷伯菌104株,用头孢西丁纸片扩散法对这些菌株进行表型初筛,用多重PCR确定ampC耐药基因型;结果发现其中有19株对头孢西丁纸片不敏感,疑为产AmpC酶菌株;再经多重PCR扩增,有12株菌分别在约400 bp（11株）和约350 bp（1株）出现了阳性条带,特异性PCR证明此12株菌分别携带了DHA型（11株）和ACC型（1株）ampC耐药基因;产质粒介导AmpC酶肺炎克雷伯菌的分离率为11.5%（12/104）。该医院产质粒介导AmpC酶肺炎克雷伯菌的分离率较高,应对其检测与监测给予足够重视,以指导临床合理选用抗菌药物。     

Evaluation of a multiplex PCR for detection of serotypes K1, K2 and K5 in Klebsiella sp. and comparison of isolates within these serotypes

A multiplex PCR using targets within the serotype-specific region of the capsular polysaccharide synthesis gene cluster of serotypes K1, K2 and K5 was evaluated using the 77 reference serotype strains of Klebsiella, and a panel of clinical isolates subjected previously to conventional serotyping. The PCR was highly specific for these serotypes, which are those most associated with virulence in humans and horses. PCR confirmed that isolates of the K5 serotype had cross-reacted with antiserum for other serotypes, particularly for K7. K5 isolates received by our laboratory were almost exclusively from thoroughbred horses, and were submitted for screening prior to breeding programmes. Most, including a reference strain isolated in 1955, belonged to a cluster of genetically similar isolates of sequence type (ST) 60. K1 isolates, all from humans, belonged to a previously identified cluster of ST 23.     

Identification of species and capsular types of Klebsiella clinical isolates, with special reference to Klebsiella planticola

In the 77 reference strains for Klebsiella K types, there are 17 strains (22.1%) of Klebsiella planticola, 6 strains (7.8%) of Klebsiella oxytoca, 1 strain (1.3%) of Klebsiella terrigena, and 53 strains (68.8%) of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The species K. planticola, which was originally isolated from botanical and aquatic environments and hence thus named, was also identified at high incidence (81 strains, 18.5%) among the 439 recent clinical isolates of Klebsiella species. Among these K. planticola strains of hospital origin, 52 (64%) were isolated from sputum, 17 (21%) from urine, and the remaining 12 (15%) from other sources. The capsular types of these isolates were determined by the gel precipitation reaction. Seventy of 81 K. planticola isolates (86.4%) were typable by antisera to Klebsiella reference strains for K types and the K types of the clinical isolates distributed to 35 kinds of K types. The proportion of typable strains among clinical isolates of K. planticola was very similar to those in K. pneumoniae (87.5%) and K. oxytoca (86.0%).     

Preliminary investigation of a mice model of Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. ozaenae induced pneumonia

In the present study, we comparatively assessed the pathophysiological mechanisms developed during lung infection of BALB/C female mice infected by an original wild type Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. ozaenae strain (CH137) or by a referent subspecies K. pneumoniae. subsp. pneumoniae strain (ATCC10031). The mice infected with 2.10? CFU K. p. subsp. pneumoniae (n = 10) showed transient signs of infection and all of them recovered. All of those infected with 1.10? CFU K. p. subsp. ozaenae (n = 10) developed pneumonia within 24 h and died between 48 and 72 h. Few macrophages, numerous polymorphonuclear cells and lymphocytes were observed in their lungs in opposite to K. p. subsp. pneumoniae. In bronchoalveolar lavage, a significant increase in MIP-2, IL-6, KC and MCP-1 levels was only observed in K. p. subsp. ozaenae infected mice whereas high levels of TNF-α were evidenced with the two subspecies. Our findings indicated a lethal effect of a wild type K. p. subsp. ozaenae strain by acute pneumonia reflecting an insufficient alveolar macrophage response. This model might be of a major interest to comparatively explore the pathogenicity of K. p. subsp ozaenae strains and to further explore the physiopathological mechanisms of gram-negative bacteria induced human pneumonia.     

临床分离肺炎克雷伯菌Ⅰ整合子分布及其与qnr基因关系研究

目的 了解临床分离肺炎克雷伯菌中qnr基因和Ⅰ类整合子基因的分布及其耐药特征.方法 采用PCR法对45株耐环丙沙星肺炎克雷伯菌进行qnrA、qnrB、qnrS基因筛查并测序,用PCR法检测qnr阳性菌株Ⅰ类整合子基因,并采用SPSS 13.0和Whonet 5.4软件分析药敏结果及比较.结果 45株肺炎克雷伯菌中,24株(51.1％)细菌检出qnrS基因,未检出qnrA和qnrB基因.20株qnr阳性菌株同时携带Ⅰ类整合子基因.qnr阳性菌株Ⅰ类整合子基因携带率显著高于阴性菌株,qnr阳性菌株对阿米卡星、妥布霉素、亚胺培南、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦及头孢哌酮舒巴坦的敏感性较高.结论 肺炎克雷伯菌对氟喹诺酮类抗菌药物耐药主要由qnrS引起,qnr阳性株同时携带Ⅰ类整合子,导致呈现多重耐药性,加强临床耐药监测对控制多重耐药传播有着重要的意义.     

Capsular Types of Klebsiella pneumoniae Revisited by wzc Sequencing

Capsule is an important virulence factor in bacteria. A total of 78 capsular types have been identified in Klebsiella pneumoniae. However, there are limitations in current typing methods. We report here the development of a new genotyping method based on amplification of the variable regions of the wzc gene. Fragments corresponding to the variable region of wzc were amplified and sequenced from 76 documented capsular types of reference or clinical strains. The remaining two capsular types (reference strains K15 and K50) lacked amplifiable wzc genes and were proven to be acapsular. Strains with the same capsular type exhibited ≧94% DNA sequence identity across the variable region (CD1-VR2-CD2) of wzc. Strains with distinct K types exhibited <80% DNA sequence identity across this region, with the exception of three pairs of strains: K22/K37, K9/K45, and K52/K79. Strains K22 and K37 shared identical capsular polysaccharide synthesis (cps) genes except for one gene with a difference at a single base which resulted in frameshift mutation. The wzc sequences of K9 and K45 exhibited high DNA sequence similarity but possessed different genes in their cps clusters. K52 and K79 exhibited 89% wzc DNA sequence identity but were readily distinguished from each other at the DNA level; in contrast, strains with the same capsular type as K52 exhibited 100% wzc sequence identity. A total of 29 strains from patients with bacteremia were typed by the wzc system. wzc DNA sequences confirmed the documented capsular type for twenty-eight of these clinical isolates; the remaining strain likely represents a new capsular type. Thus, the wzc genotyping system is a simple and useful method for capsular typing of K. pneumoniae.