Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen responsible for both community- and hospital-acquired infections. It has gained the ability to acquire external genetic materials that enable the organisms to undergo constant evolution. Particularly, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant and hypervirulent K. pneumoniae strains has driven a large number of recent studies.
More than 100 different acquired antimicrobial resistance genes have been identified in K. pneumoniae, which encode products that confer resistance towards distinct classes of antibiotics. Many resistance determinants were firstly reported from K. pneumoniae, such as the notorious Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase (KPC) gene and the recently reported plasmid-borne RND efflux pump gene cluster, tmexCD1-toprJ1. Furthermore, K. pneumoniae relies on a battery of gene products to escape the innate immune mechanisms of the host. Some well-characterized virulence factors include capsule, siderophores, lipopolysaccharide and fimbriae, and new virulence factors have been discovered. Management of K. pneumoniae infections requires both active antibiotic therapy and adequate source control.
This Research Topic is focused on the antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and therapeutic strategies of K. pneumoniae. We welcome authors around the world to contribute high-quality Original Research articles as well as Review articles in this Research Topic that include, but are not limited to the following sub-themes:
• antimicrobial resistance: molecular epidemiology and population genomics, evolution of novel mobilomes facilitating resistance gene transmission, discovery of novel antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, emergence of novel superbugs
• virulence: host-pathogen interaction, virulence factors and gene regulation, virulome analysis, animal models of K. pneumoniae colonization and infections
• therapeutic strategies: vaccines, phage therapy, novel drugs and adjuvants
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen responsible for both community- and hospital-acquired infections. It has gained the ability to acquire external genetic materials that enable the organisms to undergo constant evolution. Particularly, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant and hypervirulent K. pneumoniae strains has driven a large number of recent studies.
More than 100 different acquired antimicrobial resistance genes have been identified in K. pneumoniae, which encode products that confer resistance towards distinct classes of antibiotics. Many resistance determinants were firstly reported from K. pneumoniae, such as the notorious Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase (KPC) gene and the recently reported plasmid-borne RND efflux pump gene cluster, tmexCD1-toprJ1. Furthermore, K. pneumoniae relies on a battery of gene products to escape the innate immune mechanisms of the host. Some well-characterized virulence factors include capsule, siderophores, lipopolysaccharide and fimbriae, and new virulence factors have been discovered. Management of K. pneumoniae infections requires both active antibiotic therapy and adequate source control.
This Research Topic is focused on the antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and therapeutic strategies of K. pneumoniae. We welcome authors around the world to contribute high-quality Original Research articles as well as Review articles in this Research Topic that include, but are not limited to the following sub-themes:
• antimicrobial resistance: molecular epidemiology and population genomics, evolution of novel mobilomes facilitating resistance gene transmission, discovery of novel antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, emergence of novel superbugs
• virulence: host-pathogen interaction, virulence factors and gene regulation, virulome analysis, animal models of K. pneumoniae colonization and infections
• therapeutic strategies: vaccines, phage therapy, novel drugs and adjuvants
