Project description:Hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (hv-CRKP) has recently aroused increasing attention, especially ST11, the predominant CRKP clone in China. Here, we report a case of hv-CRKP-associated infection and reveal the in-host evolution of its mechanism of resistance to tigecycline and polymyxin under clinical therapy. A total of 11 K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing CRKP strains were consecutively isolated from a male patient who suffered from continuous and multisite infections. String and antimicrobial susceptibility tests identified seven hypermucoviscous strains and three tigecycline-resistant and four colistin-resistant strains. Galleria mellonella larvae infection model confirmed the hypervirulence. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) separated three PFGE clusters among all strains, and further Southern blotting detected that blaKPC-2 was located on the same-sized plasmid. Whole-genome sequencing showed that all strains belonged to the hv-CRKP ST11-KL64 clone. Diverse hypervirulence factors and resistance genes were identified. Further sequencing with the Nanopore platform was performed on the CRKP-Urine1 strain, which contained one virulence plasmid (pVi-CRKP-Urine1) and two resistance plasmids (pKPC-CRKP-Urine1 and pqnrS1-CRKP-Urine1). The gene mutations responsible for tigecycline or colistin resistance were then amplified with PCR followed by sequencing, which indicated that mutations of ramR and lon were the potential loci for tigecycline resistance and that the pmrB, phoQ and mgrB genes for colistin resistance. A novel frameshift mutation of lon was identified in the high-level tigecycline-resistant strain (MIC, 128 mg/L). The results indicate that the hypervirulent ST11-KL64 clone is a potential threat to antiinfection treatment and is capable of rapid and diverse evolution of resistance during tigecycline and polymyxin treatment.
Project description:Polymyxin has been the last resort to treat multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia. However, recent studies have revealed that polymyxin-resistant carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia (PR-CRKP) emerged due to the mutations in chromosomal genes or the plasmid-harboring mcr gene, leading to lipopolysaccharide modification or efflux of polymyxin through pumps. Further surveillance was required. In the present study we collected PR-CRKP strains from 8 hospitals in 6 provinces/cities across China to identify the carbapenemase and polymyxin resistance genes and epidemiological features by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The broth microdilution method (BMD) was performed to determine the MIC of polymyxin. Of 662 nonduplicate CRKP strains, 15.26% (101/662) were defined as PR-CRKP; 10 (9.90%) were confirmed as Klebsiella quasipneumoniae by WGS. The strains were further classified into 21 individual sequence types (STs) by using multilocus sequence typing (MLST), with ST11 being prevalent (68/101, 67.33%). Five carbapenemase types were identified among 92 CR-PRKP, blaKPC-2 (66.67%), blaNDM-1 (16.83%), blaNDM-5 (0.99%), blaIMP-4 (4.95%), and blaIMP-38 (0.99%). Notably, 2 PR-CRKP strains harbored both blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1. The inactivation of mgrB, associated significantly with high-level polymyxin resistance, was mainly caused by the insertion sequence (IS) insertion (62.96%, 17/27). Furthermore, acrR was inserted coincidently by ISkpn26 (67/101, 66.33%). The deletion or splicing mutations of crrCAB were significantly associated with ST11 and KL47 (capsule locus types), and diverse mutations of the ramR gene were identified. Only one strain carried the mcr gene. In summary, the high IS-inserted mgrB inactivation, the close relationship between ST11 and the deletion or splicing mutations of the crrCAB, and the specific features of PR-K. quasipneumoniae constituted notable features of our PR-CRKP strains in China. IMPORTANCE Polymyxin-resistant CRKP is a serious public health threat whose resistance mechanisms should be under continuous surveillance. Here, we collected 662 nonduplicate CRKP strains across China to identify the carbapenemase and polymyxin resistance genes and epidemiological features. Polymyxin resistance mechanism in 101 PR-CRKP strains in China were also investigated, 9.8% of which (10/101) were K. quasipneumoniae, as determined via WGS, and inactivation of mgrB remained the most crucial polymyxin resistance mechanism, significantly related to high-level resistance. Deletion or splicing mutations of crrCAB were significantly associated with ST11 and KL47. Diverse mutations of the ramR gene were identified. The plasmid complementation experiment and mRNA expression analysis further confirmed that the mgrB promoter and ramR played a critical role in polymyxin resistance. This multicenter study contributed to the understanding of antibiotic resistance forms in China.
Project description:Resistance to polymyxin antibiotics is increasing. Without new antibiotic classes, combination therapy is often required. We systematically investigated bacterial killing with polymyxin-based combinations against multidrug-resistant (including polymyxin-resistant), carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Monotherapies and double- and triple-combination therapies were compared to identify the most efficacious treatment using static time-kill studies (24 h, six isolates), an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model (IVM; 48 h, two isolates), and the mouse thigh infection model (24 h, six isolates). In static time-kill studies, all monotherapies (polymyxin B, rifampin, amikacin, meropenem, or minocycline) were ineffective. Initial bacterial killing was enhanced with various polymyxin B-containing double combinations; however, substantial regrowth occurred in most cases by 24 h. Most polymyxin B-containing triple combinations provided greater and more sustained killing than double combinations. Standard dosage regimens of polymyxin B (2.5 mg/kg of body weight/day), rifampin (600 mg every 12 h), and amikacin (7.5 mg/kg every 12 h) were simulated in the IVM. Against isolate ATH 16, no viable bacteria were detected across 5 to 25 h with triple therapy, with regrowth to ∼2-log10 CFU/ml occurring at 48 h. Against isolate BD 32, rapid initial killing of ∼3.5-log10 CFU/ml at 5 h was followed by a slow decline to ∼2-log10 CFU/ml at 48 h. In infected mice, polymyxin B monotherapy (60 mg/kg/day) generally was ineffective. With triple therapy (polymyxin B at 60 mg/kg/day, rifampin at 120 mg/kg/day, and amikacin at 300 mg/kg/day), at 24 h there was an ∼1.7-log10 CFU/thigh reduction compared to the starting inoculum for all six isolates. Our results demonstrate that the polymyxin B-rifampin-amikacin combination significantly enhanced in vitro and in vivo bacterial killing, providing important information for the optimization of polymyxin-based combinations in patients.
Project description:BackgroundRecent studies indicated that the monosubstituted deoxystreptamine aminoglycoside apramycin is a potent antibiotic against a wide range of MDR Gram-negative pathogens.ObjectivesTo evaluate the in vitro activity of apramycin against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKp) isolates from New York and New Jersey, and to explore mechanisms of apramycin resistance.MethodsApramycin MICs were determined by broth microdilution for 155 CRKp bloodstream isolates collected from 2013 to 2018. MLST STs, wzi capsular types and apramycin resistance gene aac(3')-IV were examined by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Selected isolates were further characterized by conjugation experiments and WGS.ResultsApramycin MIC50/90 values were 8 and >128 mg/L for CRKp isolates, which are much higher than previously reported. Twenty-four isolates (15.5%) were apramycin resistant (MIC ≥64 mg/L) and they were all from the K. pneumoniae ST258 background. The 24 apramycin-resistant K. pneumoniae ST258 strains belonged to six different capsular types and 91.7% of them harboured the apramycin resistance gene aac(3')-IV. Sequencing analysis showed that different ST258 capsular type strains shared a common non-conjugative IncR plasmid, co-harbouring aac(3')-IV and blaKPC. A novel IncR and IncX3 cointegrate plasmid, p59494-RX116.1, was also identified in an ST258 strain, demonstrating how apramycin resistance can be spread from a non-conjugative plasmid through cointegration.ConclusionsWe described a high apramycin resistance rate in clinical CRKp isolates in the New York/New Jersey region, mainly among the epidemic K. pneumoniae ST258 strains. The high resistance rate in an epidemic K. pneumoniae clone raises concern regarding the further optimization and development of apramycin and apramycin-like antibiotics.
Project description:Extensively drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (XDR-KP) infections cause high mortality and are disseminating globally. Identifying the genetic basis underpinning resistance allows for rapid diagnosis and treatment. XDR isolates sourced from Greece and Brazil, including 19 polymyxin-resistant and five polymyxin-susceptible strains, were subjected to whole genome sequencing. Seventeen of the 19 polymyxin-resistant isolates harboured variations upstream or within mgrB. The most common mutation identified was an insertion at nucleotide position 75 in mgrB via an ISKpn26-like element in the ST258 lineage and ISKpn13 in one ST11 isolate. Three strains acquired an IS1 element upstream of mgrB and another strain had an ISKpn25 insertion at 133 bp. Other isolates had truncations (C28STOP, Q30STOP) or a missense mutation (D29E) affecting mgrB. Complementation assays revealed all mgrB perturbations contributed to resistance. Missense mutations in phoQ (T281M, G385C) were also found to facilitate resistance. Several variants in phoPQ co-segregating with the ISKpn26-like insertion were identified as potential partial suppressor mutations. Three ST258 samples were found to contain subpopulations with different resistance-conferring mutations, including the ISKpn26-like insertion colonizing with a novel mutation in pmrB (P158R), both confirmed via complementation assays. These findings highlight the broad spectrum of chromosomal modifications which can facilitate and regulate resistance against polymyxins in K. pneumoniae.
Project description:The emergence and spread of polymyxin resistance, especially among Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, threaten the effective management of infections. This study profiled for polymyxin resistance mechanisms and investigated the activity of polymyxins plus vancomycin against carbapenem- and polymyxin-resistant K. pneumoniae. The entire genome sequences of seven isolates were profiled for resistance and virulence determinants. The effects of combination therapy were evaluated using the checkerboard technique, time-kill assay, and population profile analysis. Protein profiles of the isolates treated with monotherapy were compared to that of combination therapy. The whole-genome sequencing data revealed that the isolates harbored β-lactams, carbapenems, aminoglycoside, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and tetracycline resistance genes, with several virulence-associated genes. The plasmids including the bla OXA-232-bearing ColKP3 plasmid were also identified in our isolates. Profiling for polymyxin resistance mechanism revealed a missense mutation in the crrB gene that resulted in a Q180L variant that conferred a deleterious effect on protein function. The combination assay indicated fractional inhibitory concentration index ranging from 0.31 to 1.13, whereas the time-kill assay demonstrated synergistic log reduction in colony-forming units per milliliter. Furthermore, population analysis profiling using dual antibiotics indicated enhancement in bacterial log reduction at lower antibiotics concentrations, compared to higher concentrations of single polymyxins. For protein profiling, 796 proteins were identified, and 56 and 94 of them were increased and decreased in the combined drug treatment groups, respectively, while other differentially produced proteins were detected in all treatment groups, except for the control group. The results demonstrated that the vancomycin combination might benefit the antimicrobial activities of polymyxins. IMPORTANCE This study provides insights into the mechanisms of polymyxin resistance in K. pneumoniae clinical isolates and demonstrates potential strategies of polymyxin and vancomycin combinations for combating this resistance. We also identified possible mechanisms that might be associated with the treatment of these combinations against carbapenem- and polymyxin-resistant K. pneumoniae clinical isolates. The findings have significant implications for the development of alternative therapies and the effective management of infections caused by these pathogens.
Project description:Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a significant global health threat primarily attributable to its pronounced resistance. Here, we report an in vitro acquired resistance analyses of K. pneumoniae to the combination of amikacin and polymyxin B. We found some differentially expressed genes associated with the resistome of K. pneumoniae. The main differences were found in the genes aphA, asmA, phoP, and in the arn operon. Once these genes are related to modification in lipopolysaccharides, aminoglycosides and in the membrane structure, the mechanisms associated with them can justify the resistance acquisition to amikacin and polymyxin b.
Project description:The emergence of Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) represents a threat to public health. Polymyxin-B is generally considered a last-resort antibiotic. In this study, we isolated a carbapenem- and polymyxin-B resistant K. pneumoniae phage BL02 for the first time in Southwestern China and evaluated its biological characteristics and whole-genome sequence. Polymyxin-B resistant K. pneumoniae, (CK02), was isolated from the blood of a male with severe septic shock, and phage BL02 was screened and purified from the hospital sewage. BL02 could lyse 40 out of 46 CRKP isolates (86.96%) and has high activity in the pH range of 6-10 and the temperature range of 4-55 °C. The latency period of BL02 was about 10 min and the lysis period was about 50 min. The genome results showed that BL02 was a linear dsDNA with a total length of 175,595 bp and a GC content of 41.83%. A total of 275 ORFs were predicted and no tRNA, rRNA, drug resistance genes, or virulence genes were found in the genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that BL02 belongs to the family Straboviridae. Treatment of infected mice with two antibiotics (tigecycline or ceftazidime/avibactam) resulted in 7-day survival rates of 28.57% and 42.86%, respectively. In contrast, the survival rate of mice in the single-dose BL02-treated group was 71.43%. In summary, this preclinical study isolated a phage capable of lysing polymyxin-B resistant K. pneumoniae and validated its safety and efficacy in an in vivo model, which provides a reference for further research on controlling MDR pathogens.
Project description:Introduction: Polymyxin B is a last-line therapy for carbapenem-resistant microorganisms. However, a lack of clinical pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data has substantially hindered dose optimization and breakpoint setting. Methods: A prospective, multi-center clinical trial was undertaken with polymyxin B [2.5 mg/kg loading dose (3-h infusion), 1.25 mg/kg/12 h maintenance dose (2-h infusion)] for treatment of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) bloodstream infections (BSI). Safety, clinical and microbiological efficacy were evaluated. A validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was applied to determine the concentrations of polymyxin B in blood samples. Population pharmacokinetic (PK) modeling and Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to examine the susceptibility breakpoint for polymyxin B against BSI caused by CRKP. Results: Nine patients were enrolled and evaluated for safety. Neurotoxicity (5/9), nephrotoxicity (5/9), and hyperpigmentation (1/9) were recorded. Blood cultures were negative within 3 days of commencing therapy in all 8 patients evaluated for microbiological efficacy, and clinical cure or improvement occurred in 6 of 8 patients. Cmax and Cmin following the loading dose were 5.53 ± 1.80 and 1.62 ± 0.41 mg/L, respectively. With maintenance dosing, AUCss,24 h was 79.6 ± 25.0 mg h/L and Css,avg 3.35 ± 1.06 mg/L. Monte Carlo simulations indicated that a 1 mg/kg/12-hourly maintenance dose could achieve >90% probability of target attainment (PTA) for isolates with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≤1 mg/L. PTA dropped substantially for MICs ≥2 mg/L, even with a maximally recommended daily dose of 1.5 mg/kg/12-hourly. Conclusion: This is the first clinical PK/PD study evaluating polymyxin B for BSI. These results will assist to optimize polymyxin B therapy and establish its breakpoints for CRKP BSI.
Project description:Polymyxin-carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (PCR-Kp) with pan (PDR)- or extensively drug-resistant phenotypes has been increasingly described worldwide. Here, we report a PCR-Kp outbreak causing untreatable infections descriptively correlated with bacterial genomes. Hospital-wide surveillance of PCR-Kp was initiated in December-2014, after the first detection of a K. pneumoniae phenotype initially classified as PDR, recovered from close spatiotemporal cases of a sentinel hospital in Rio de Janeiro. Whole-genome sequencing of clinical PCR-Kp was performed to investigate similarities and dissimilarities in phylogeny, resistance and virulence genes, plasmid structures and genetic polymorphisms. A target phenotypic profile was detected in 10% (12/117) of the tested K. pneumoniae complex bacteria recovered from patients (8.5%, 8/94) who had epidemiological links and were involved in intractable infections and death, with combined therapeutic drugs failing to meet synergy. Two resistant bacterial clades belong to the same transmission cluster (ST437) or might have different sources (ST11). The severity of infection was likely related to patients' comorbidities, lack of antimicrobial therapy and predicted bacterial genes related to high resistance, survival, and proliferation. This report contributes to the actual knowledge about the natural history of PCR-Kp infection, while reporting from a time when there were no licensed drugs in the world to treat some of these infections. More studies comparing clinical findings with bacterial genetic markers during clonal spread are needed.