Regional Distribution of Klebsiella pneumoniae Virulence Genes: Insights from a Comparative Genome Analysis
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The hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is a clinically significant pathotype. HvKp-related pathotypes are characterized by the presence of multiple key virulence determinants, contributing to severe infections across diverse geographic regions. In contrast, certain carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKp) lineages carry only a subset of these virulence genes, representing virulence marker-associated CRKp that may acquire additional determinants over time. Several virulence markers, including rmpA , rmpA2 , iucA , iroB , clb , ybt , and peg-344 , have been identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers for hvKp detection.This study examines the global distribution of five key hvKp virulence genes ( iucA, rmpA, rmpA2, iroB , and peg-344 ), comparing classical hvKp lineages with nonclassical hvKp/virulence-marker-associated CRKp lineages. Analysis revealed substantial ST- and region-specific variation in the retention of these markers. These findings underscore the need for multigene, region-specific surveillance strategies to facilitate early detection and guide effective clinical and infection control measures.
