Skip to main content
  • Research Note
  • Open access
  • Published:

Genome sequence of a virulent and hypermucoviscous-like Klebsiella michiganensis clinical isolate

Abstract

Objectives

The hypermucoviscous-like phenotype has been described in Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex (KpSC) and was described as a contributor of increased virulence. This study described the characterization and whole-genome sequencing of an antibiotic susceptible and hypermucoviscous-like Klebsiella michiganensis 9273 clinical isolate.

Data description

Here, we report the genome sequence of a K. michiganensis clinical isolate obtained from a urinary tract infection exhibiting the hypermucoviscous-like phenotype. The draft genome sequence consisted of 145 contigs and ~ 6.6 Mb genome size. The annotation revealed 6648 coding DNA sequences and 56 tRNA genes. The strain belongs to the sequence type (ST) 50, and the OXY-1 beta-lactam resistance gene, aph(3′)-Ia gene for aminoglycoside resistance and multidrug efflux pumps were identified. The fyuA siderophore receptor of yersiniabactin siderophore was identified. Increased virulence was observed in Galleria mellonella larvae model and increased capsule production was determined by uronic acid quantification. The clinical implications of this phenotype are unknown, but the patient outcome might worsen compared to susceptible- or MDR-classical K. michiganensis isolates.

Peer Review reports

Objective

The hypermucoviscous phenotype and hypercapsule production are driven by the rmpADC operon identified in Klebsiella pneumoniae [1]. There are several reports of hypermucoviscous KpSC isolates that do not carry the rmpADC operon; hereafter this phenotype is refer to as hypermucoviscous-like. This phenotype has been  described in K. pneumoniae [2], K. quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae [3] and K. variicola [4] but rarely seen outside the KpSC. It has been demonstrated that the hypermucoviscous-like phenotype promotes virulence, so those isolates displaying this phenotype are likely to increase its virulence [4]. The Klebsiella oxytoca complex (KoxSC) comprise nine species in which K. michiganensis is a member. Precise species identification requires genome-based analysis thus misidentification is likely to occur by phenotypic, biochemical test or MALDI-TOF [5].

The prevalence and type of infections caused by K. michiganensis is largely unknown but the species of the KoxSC are opportunistic pathogens that are associated with hemorrhagic colitis, urinary tract infections and bacteremia, and occasionally outbreaks in immunocompromised patients or those requiring intensive care [5]. K. michiganensis may acquire extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL), carbapenemases and colistin resistance [6, 7]. To date, no hypervirulent or hypermucoviscous-like K. michiganensis strains has been described. In this study, the semi-quantitative string test [8] was applied to a collection of 30 presumptive K. oxytoca isolates resulting one isolate positive to this test which was further characterized.

Data description

The K. michiganensis 9273 isolate was obtained from urinary tract infection at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara, Mexico in 2015. First, the species identification was performed at the hospital using MicroScan and resulted in K. oxytoca. The strain was subjected to disk-diffusion-method, accordingly to CLSI (2022) guidelines [9], to determine its antimicrobial susceptibility profile. It showed resistance to ampicillin (256 mg/ml) and susceptibility to ceftazidime, cefotaxime, imipenem, amikacin, gentamicin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, sulfamethoxazole plus trimethoprim and tetracycline, which characterize a non-MDR profile. The string test was evaluated in Mac Conkey agar plates and revealed a 4 cm string long. The plasmid profile was investigated by alkaline lysis protocol using the E. coli NCTC 50192 strain, which contains plasmids of 154-,66-, 48-, and 7-kb as a molecular size marker [10]. The K. michiganensis 9273 isolate possess three plasmids of ~ 190-, 160-, and 90-kb (Additional file 1: Fig. S1).

Total genomic DNA from the 9273-isolate was extracted using 5 ml of an overnight culture then purified using the DNeasy Kit (Qiagen, Germany). In 2015, the whole-genome sequence was generated using pyrosequencing methodology with the 454 Roche FLX Titanium platform. Reads (99.9% above Q40) longer than 500 bp were used for de novo assembly with the CLC Genomics Workbench version 4.0 (CLC bio). The total sequence data are 295,456 reads with 30- to 943-bp length range and a total of 145 contigs, with an estimated genome size of 6,632,597 bp with 20X coverage. The genome sequence was subjected to average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis against reference genomes of the nine members of the KoxSC. The ANI values of K. oxytoca (GCA_003812925.1), K. grimontii (GCA_900200035), K. huaxiensis (GCA_003261575), K. pasteurii (GCA_018139045.1), K. spallanzanii (GCA_901563875.1), taxon 1 (QJJG00000000), taxon 2 (CP046115) and taxon 3 (CP055481) were below the cutoff point for species distinction (87.3% to 91.7%) but 99.24% ANI value with K. michiganensis (GCA_015139575.1) was observed. The Whole Genome Sequencing project was deposited at DDBJ/ENA/GenBank under the accession number JAVFHI000000000.

MLST typing tool determined the sequence type (ST) 50 (https://cge.cbs.dtu.dk/services/MLST/). This ST50 did not correspond to globally expanding beta-lactam resistant sequence type [11]. Carriage of antimicrobial resistance genes was determined by ResFinder-4.1 (https://cge.cbs.dtu.dk/services/ResFinder/). The OXY-1 β-lactam resistance gene was identified which represents the phylogenetic group Ko1. In addition, the aph(3')-Ia gene for aminoglycoside resistance and multidrug efflux pumps (acrD, acrB, mdtB, mdtC, bepE, msbA, and emrB genes) were identified. Lastly, virulence genes mrk, kfu, fyuA (siderophore receptor of yersiniabactin) were found.

Plasmids with incompatibility groups repA, IncFIBK and IncFII were detected by PlasmidFinder-V2.1 (https://cge.food.dtu.dk/services/PlasmidFinder/). The hypermucoviscous-like phenotype in K. variicola has been linked with the acquisition of an IncFIBK-plasmid (pKV8917) which conferred the highly viscous phenotype. The pKV8917 self-transmissible plasmid has the potential to disseminate to other Klebsiella species [4]. Thus, additional studies are required to determine whether there is a plasmid-borne or chromosomal mechanism in K. michiganensis 9273.

The relationship between resistance genes and mobile genetic element were predicted using Mobile Element Finder (https://cge.food.dtu.dk/services/MobileElementFinder/) showing that aph(3′)-Ia and fyuA belonged to the same contig, suggesting a putative co-harboring location.

Quantification of capsule by means of uronic acid measurement [4] revealed that the hypermucoviscous-like K. michiganensis isolate 9273 produced more capsule (148 µg/109 CFUs) than non-hypermucoviscous (24 µg/109 CFUs) and hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (63.6 µg/109 CFUs) isolates reported in previous studies (Fig. 1A) [12]. Phagocytosis assay [4] showed that the 9273-isolate was less phagocyted in comparison to a non-hypermucoviscous isolate (Fig. 1B). In addition, we performed serum killing assay using human serum obtained from healthy volunteers [4] and was used to challenge ~ 106 CFUs of the 9273 isolate. This assay was performed in triplicate and revealed a serum resistant type.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Assays for determining the capsule-associated virulence phenotype in K. michiganensis 9273. A Quantification of uronic acid and B Phagocytosis assay. We included one hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (14660, ST86-K2) and one classical and non-hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae (9468) as reference strains for capsule production and phagocytosis resistance assays. C Kaplan–Meier survival curves of infected G. mellonella larvae with K. michiganensis  isolate 9273 at three doses 1 × 104, 1 × 105 and 1 × 106 CFUs. K. variicola F2R9 (106 CFUs) [12], K. pneumoniae 9468 (106 CFUs) and hypervirulent K. pneumoniae 14660 (104 CFUs) were used respectively as nonlethal and lethal doses control. Statistical analysis was carried out based on one way ANOVA (A and B), long rank (Mantel-Cox) and Chi-square test (C); p < 0.0001. Uronic acid quantification and phagocytosis assay are presented as the mean ± standard deviation of three independent experiments. Kmg K. michiganensis, hvKpn hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, non-hmv Kpn non-hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae, PBS Phosphate-buffered saline

Finally, infection assays were realized according to Sugeçti [13]. G. mellonella larvae were acquired from Petmmal company (México). Briefly, bacterial cultures of K. michiganensis 9273 were prepared with 104, 105 and 106 CFU per 20 µl in PBS 1X. Seven-instar larvae of G. mellonella were chilled on ice for 5 min and surface sterilized in 95% ethanol. Then, 20 µl of each culture was injected into the hemocoel of each G. mellonella larvae with a hamilton syringe. Larvae were examined every 24 h and were scored as dead when they were melanized or unresponsive to touch.

We inoculated 106 CFUs of classical K. variicola F2R9 [14] and K. pneumoniae 9468 as nonlethal controls and 104 CFUs of the hypervirulent K. pneumoniae 14660 as lethal control. All experiments used 40 larvae per treatment. After 5 days post bacterial challenge, similar survival percentages were obtained for K. michiganensis 9273 (84%, 104 CFUs), K. variicola F2R9 (76.63%, 106 CFUs) and K. pneumoniae 9468 (74.45%, 106 CFUs). However, inoculation of 105 and 106 CFUs of K. michiganensis 9273 resulted in 50% and 0% survival, respectively (Fig. 1C). Similarly, 0% survival for hypervirulent K. pneumoniae 14660 (104) was observed after 3 days (Fig. 1C). Taken together, these results prove that K. michiganensis 9273 isolate is virulent, and this effect may be linked with its capsule-associated phenotype.

Limitations

Unlike the fact that the hypermucoviscous-like phenotype in K. variicola was determined to be plasmid-mediated, the present work did not address the genetic basis for this phenotype.

Data availability

The data described in this Data note can be freely and openly accessed under the Accession Number: JAVFHI000000000.

References

  1. Walker KA, Miller VL. The intersection of capsule gene expression, hypermucoviscosity and hypervirulence in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Curr Opin Microbiol. 2020;54:95–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2020.01.006.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Dey T, Chakrabortty A, Kapoor A, Warrier A, Nag VL, Sivashanmugam K, Shankar M. Unusual hypermucoviscous clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae with no known determinants of hypermucoviscosity. Microbiol Spectr. 2022;10(3):e0039322. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00393-22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Garza-Ramos U, Silva-Sánchez J, Catalán-Nájera J, Barrios H, Rodríguez-Medina N, Garza-González E, Cevallos MA, Lozano L. Draft genome sequence of a Hypermucoviscous extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae clinical isolate. Genome Announc. 2016;4(4):e00475-e516. https://doi.org/10.1128/genomeA.00475-16.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Rodríguez-Medina N, Martínez-Romero E, De la Cruz MA, Ares MA, Valdovinos-Torres H, Silva-Sánchez J, Lozano-Aguirre L, Martínez-Barnetche J, Andrade V, Garza-Ramos U. A Klebsiella variicola plasmid confers hypermucoviscosity-like phenotype and alters capsule production and virulence. Front Microbiol. 2020;16(11):579612. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.579612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Yang J, Long H, Hu Y, Feng Y, McNally A, Zong Z. Klebsiella oxytoca complex: update on taxonomy, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2022;35(1):e0000621. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00006-21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Decré D, Burghoffer B, Gautier V, Petit JC, Arlet G. Outbreak of multi-resistant Klebsiella oxytoca involving strains with extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and strains with extended-spectrum activity of the chromosomal beta-lactamase. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2004;54(5):881–8. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkh440.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lowe C, Willey B, O’Shaughnessy A, Lee W, Lum M, Pike K, Larocque C, Dedier H, Dales L, Moore C, McGeer A, Mount Sinai Hospital Infection Control Team. Outbreak of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella oxytoca infections associated with contaminated handwashing sinks. Emerg Infect Dis. 2012;18(8):1242–7. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1808.111268.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Lee HC, Chuang YC, Yu WL, et al. Clinical implication of hypermucoviscosity phenotype I Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates: association with invasive syndrome in patients with community-acquired bacteraemia. J Intern Med. 2006;259:606–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2006.01641.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. CLSI. M100 Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. 2017. www.clsi.org. Accessed 19 Nov 2018

  10. Philippon LN, Naas T, Bouthors AT, Barakett V, Nordmann P. OXA-18, a class D clavulanic acid-inhibited extended-spectrum beta-lactamase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1997;41(10):2188–95. https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.41.10.2188.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Moradigaravand D, Martin V, Peacock SJ, Parkhill J. Population structure of multidrug resistant Klebsiella oxytoca within hospitals across the UK and Ireland identifies sharing of virulence and resistance genes with K. pneumoniae. Genome Biol Evo. 2017;9(3):574–87. https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evx019.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Rodríguez-Medina N, Rodríguez-Santiago J, Alvarado-Delgado A, et al. Comprehensive study reveals heterogeneity among the Klebsiella pneumoniae Species Complex Phenotypes. 2023. Under Review. Scientific Reports.

  13. Sugeçti S. Pathophysiological effects of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection on Galleria mellonella as an invertebrate model organism. Arch Microbiol. 2021;203(6):3509–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-021-02346-y.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Garza-Ramos U, Rodriguez-Medina N, Lozano-Aguirre L, Silva-Sanchez J, Sanchez-Arias M, Rodriguez-Olguin J, Martínez-Romero E. Klebsiella variicola reference strain F2R9 (ATCC BAA-830) genome sequence. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021;10(26):e0032921. https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00329-21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

UGR thanks to FORDECYT-PRONACES from SEP-CONACyT for the grant.

Funding

This work was supported by the grant 347316 FORDECYT-PRONACES from SEP-CONACyT (Secretaría de Educación Pública-Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

For research articles with several authors, a short paragraph specifying their individual contributions must be provided. The following statements should be used “Conceptualization, NRM and UGR; methodology, AAD, EMTL and ASP; software, NRM; validation, AAD, NRM and UGR; formal analysis, AAD, NRM and UGR; investigation, RMO, AAD, NRM and UGR; resources, UGR; data curation, NRM and UGR; writing—original draft preparation, AAD and NRM; writing—review and editing, AAD, NRM and UGR; visualization, AAD; supervision, NRM and UGR; project administration, UGR; funding acquisition, UGR.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ulises Garza-Ramos.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Signed informed consent was obtained from volunteers and provided consent for using blood samples for serum killing assays. All methods were carried out in accordance with the guidelines from the at Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública. This study was approved by the Biosafety and Ethics committees at Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública under the number CB21-025 and CI: 1721, respectively.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Additional file 1: Figure S1.

Plasmid profile of the hypermucoviscous and virulent K. michiganensis 9273. Lines: 1, E. coli 50192 was used as molecular size maker; 2, Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae 14660, 3, the non-hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae 9458 (absent of plasmids) and 4, Hypervirulent-hypermucoviscous K. michiganensis 9273. Chr Bacterial chromosome.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Alvarado-Delgado, A., Rodríguez-Medina, N., Sánchez-Pérez, A. et al. Genome sequence of a virulent and hypermucoviscous-like Klebsiella michiganensis clinical isolate. BMC Res Notes 16, 334 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-023-06603-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-023-06603-9

Keywords