AUTHOR=Li Yin , Ni Ming 

TITLE=Regulation of biofilm formation in Klebsiella pneumoniae

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1238482

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1238482

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Klebsiella pneumoniae</italic> is an important Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that is responsible for a variety of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. <italic>Klebsiella pneumoniae</italic> has become a major public health issue owing to the rapid global spread of extensively-drug resistant (XDR) and hypervirulent strains. Biofilm formation is an important virulence trait of <italic>K. pneumoniae</italic>. A biofilm is an aggregate of microorganisms attached to an inert or living surface by a self-produced exo-polymeric matrix that includes proteins, polysaccharides and extracellular DNA. Bacteria within the biofilm are shielded from antibiotics treatments and host immune responses, making it more difficult to eradicate <italic>K. pneumoniae</italic>-induced infection. However, the detailed mechanisms of biofilm formation in <italic>K. pneumoniae</italic> are still not clear. Here, we review the factors involved in the biofilm formation of <italic>K. pneumoniae</italic>, which might provide new clues to address this clinical challenge.</p>