Here, we report a multidrug-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-HvKP) strain of sequence type 23 (ST23) with a rare hybrid plasmid harboring virulence genes and blaCTX-M-24, and we analyze the genetic basis for relationship between genotypes and MDR-hypervirulence phenotypes. Further analysis indicates that the hybrid plasmid is formed by IS903D-mediated intermolecular transposition of the blaCTX-M-24 gene into the virulence plasmid. The emergence of MDR-HvKP strains, especially those carrying drug-resistant virulent plasmids, poses unprecedented threats/challenges to public health. This is a dangerous trend and should be closely monitored.
Keywords: Klebsiella pneumoniae; ST23; blaCTX-M-24; high-pathogenicity island; horizontal gene transfer (HGT); mobile genetic elements (MGEs); multidrug-resistant and hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-HvKP); virulent plasmid.
Copyright © 2019 Shen et al.