TY - GEN A1 - Sydow, Katharina A1 - Eger, Elias A1 - Schwabe, Michael A1 - Heiden, Stefan E. A1 - Bohnert, Jürgen A. A1 - Franzenburg, Sören A1 - Jurischka, Christoph A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Schaufler, Katharina T1 - Geno- and Phenotypic Characteristics of a Klebsiella pneumoniae ST20 Isolate with Unusual Colony Morphology T2 - Microorganisms N2 - Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common member of the intestinal flora of vertebrates. In addition to opportunistic representatives, hypervirulent (hvKp) and antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae (ABR-Kp) occur. While ABR-Kp isolates often cause difficult-to-treat diseases due to limited therapeutic options, hvKp is a pathotype that can infect healthy individuals often leading to recurrent infection. Here, we investigated the clinical K. pneumoniae isolate PBIO3459 obtained from a blood sample, which showed an unusual colony morphology. By combining whole-genome and RNA sequencing with multiple in vitro and in vivo virulence-associated assays, we aimed to define the respective Klebsiella subtype and explore the unusual phenotypic appearance. We demonstrate that PBIO3459 belongs to sequence type (ST)20 and carries no acquired resistance genes, consistent with phenotypic susceptibility tests. In addition, the isolate showed low-level virulence, both at genetic and phenotypic levels. We thus suggest that PBIO3459 is an opportunistic (commensal) K. pneumoniae isolate. Genomic comparison of PBIO3459 with closely related ABR-Kp ST20 isolates revealed that they differed only in resistance genes. Finally, the unusual colony morphology was mainly associated with carbohydrate and amino acid transport and metabolism. In conclusion, our study reveals the characteristics of a Klebsiella sepsis isolate and suggests that opportunistic representatives likely acquire and accumulate antibiotic resistances that subsequently enable their emergence as ABR-Kp pathogens. KW - virulence KW - next-generation sequencing KW - biofilm KW - exopolysaccharides Y1 - 2022 UR - https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-UBICO/frontdoor/index/index/docId/29519 SN - 2076-2607 VL - 10 IS - 10 ER -