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Pandrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from Ukrainian war victims are hypervirulent

Ljungquist, Oskar LU ; Magda, Michal LU orcid ; Giske, Christian G LU ; Tellapragada, Chaitanya ; Nazarchuk, Oleksandr ; Dmytriiev, Dmytro ; Thofte, Oskar LU orcid ; Öhnström, Valdemar LU ; Matuschek, Erika and Blom, Anna M LU orcid , et al. (2024) In Journal of Infection 89(6).
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Carbapenem- and colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from war victims treated in hospitals in Ukraine. The question was whether these pandrug-resistant K. pneumoniae are pathogenic and capable of causing disease in a broader context.

METHODS: Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates (n = 37) were tested for antibiotic resistance and subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). In addition, their pathogenicity was tested by serum resistance and two separate animal models.

RESULTS: Isolates belonging to the sequence types (ST) 23, 147, 307, 395, and 512 were found to harbor resistance genes against carbapenems and cephalosporins. Nine isolates carried point mutations in pmrB and phoP genes... (More)

OBJECTIVES: Carbapenem- and colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from war victims treated in hospitals in Ukraine. The question was whether these pandrug-resistant K. pneumoniae are pathogenic and capable of causing disease in a broader context.

METHODS: Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates (n = 37) were tested for antibiotic resistance and subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). In addition, their pathogenicity was tested by serum resistance and two separate animal models.

RESULTS: Isolates belonging to the sequence types (ST) 23, 147, 307, 395, and 512 were found to harbor resistance genes against carbapenems and cephalosporins. Nine isolates carried point mutations in pmrB and phoP genes associated with colistin resistance. All bacteria were equipped with multiple virulence genes, and the colistin-resistant isolates each carried 10 different genes. Colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae were more serum-resistant, more virulent against G. mellonella larvae, and displayed an increased survival in mice compared to colistin-susceptible bacteria. The iucA, peg-344, rmpA, rmpC, and rmpD genes were associated with increased virulence in animals.

CONCLUSIONS: Pandrug-resistant K. pneumoniae in Ukraine are hypervirulent and retain their pathogenicity, highlighting the need to prevent disseminated spread.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Infection
volume
89
issue
6
article number
106312
publisher
W.B. Saunders
external identifiers
  • scopus:85206854661
  • pmid:39396555
ISSN
1532-2742
DOI
10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106312
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
id
89510b4f-519e-4e58-9636-e8e1da0cc7c2
date added to LUP
2024-10-24 11:35:05
date last changed
2025-05-15 03:23:34
@article{89510b4f-519e-4e58-9636-e8e1da0cc7c2,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVES: Carbapenem- and colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from war victims treated in hospitals in Ukraine. The question was whether these pandrug-resistant K. pneumoniae are pathogenic and capable of causing disease in a broader context.</p><p>METHODS: Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates (n = 37) were tested for antibiotic resistance and subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). In addition, their pathogenicity was tested by serum resistance and two separate animal models.</p><p>RESULTS: Isolates belonging to the sequence types (ST) 23, 147, 307, 395, and 512 were found to harbor resistance genes against carbapenems and cephalosporins. Nine isolates carried point mutations in pmrB and phoP genes associated with colistin resistance. All bacteria were equipped with multiple virulence genes, and the colistin-resistant isolates each carried 10 different genes. Colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae were more serum-resistant, more virulent against G. mellonella larvae, and displayed an increased survival in mice compared to colistin-susceptible bacteria. The iucA, peg-344, rmpA, rmpC, and rmpD genes were associated with increased virulence in animals.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Pandrug-resistant K. pneumoniae in Ukraine are hypervirulent and retain their pathogenicity, highlighting the need to prevent disseminated spread.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ljungquist, Oskar and Magda, Michal and Giske, Christian G and Tellapragada, Chaitanya and Nazarchuk, Oleksandr and Dmytriiev, Dmytro and Thofte, Oskar and Öhnström, Valdemar and Matuschek, Erika and Blom, Anna M and Riesbeck, Kristian}},
  issn         = {{1532-2742}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  publisher    = {{W.B. Saunders}},
  series       = {{Journal of Infection}},
  title        = {{Pandrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from Ukrainian war victims are hypervirulent}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106312}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106312}},
  volume       = {{89}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}