The hypermucoviscosity of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae confers the ability to evade neutrophil-mediated phagocytosis
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKP), which causes highly fatal infections, is a new threat to human health. In an attempt to investigate the underlying mechanisms of resistance to neutrophil-mediated killing and hence expression of high-level virulence by HvKP, we tested the binding affinity...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Virulence |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2021.1960101 |
| _version_ | 1828125689565413376 |
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| author | Qi Xu Xuemei Yang Edward Wai Chi Chan Sheng Chen |
| author_facet | Qi Xu Xuemei Yang Edward Wai Chi Chan Sheng Chen |
| author_sort | Qi Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKP), which causes highly fatal infections, is a new threat to human health. In an attempt to investigate the underlying mechanisms of resistance to neutrophil-mediated killing and hence expression of high-level virulence by HvKP, we tested the binding affinity of HvKP strains to various types of human cells. Our data showed that HvKP exhibited weaker binding to both lung epithelial cells, intestinal Caco-2 cells and macrophages when compared to the classic, non-hypervirulent strains (cKP). Consistently, transconjugants that have acquired a rmpA or rmpA2-bearing plasmid were found to exhibit decreased adhesion to various types of human cells, and hence higher survival rate upon exposure to neutrophil cells. We further found that over production of hypermucoviscosity (HMV), but not capsular polysaccharide (CPS), contributed to the reduced binding and phagocytosis. The effect of hypermucoviscosity on enhancing HvKP virulence was further shown in human serum survival assays and animal experiments. Findings in this study therefore confirmed that rmpA/A2-mediated hypermucoviscosity in HvKP plays a key role in the pathogenesis of this organism through conferring the ability to evade neutrophil binding and phagocytosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T15:24:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1d28a5dd171f4a9a956561789d96054d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-5594 2150-5608 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T15:24:22Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Virulence |
| spelling | doaj.art-1d28a5dd171f4a9a956561789d96054d2022-12-22T04:16:18ZengTaylor & Francis GroupVirulence2150-55942150-56082021-12-011212050205910.1080/21505594.2021.19601011960101The hypermucoviscosity of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae confers the ability to evade neutrophil-mediated phagocytosisQi Xu0Xuemei Yang1Edward Wai Chi Chan2Sheng Chen3Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong KongJockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong KongThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityJockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong KongHypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKP), which causes highly fatal infections, is a new threat to human health. In an attempt to investigate the underlying mechanisms of resistance to neutrophil-mediated killing and hence expression of high-level virulence by HvKP, we tested the binding affinity of HvKP strains to various types of human cells. Our data showed that HvKP exhibited weaker binding to both lung epithelial cells, intestinal Caco-2 cells and macrophages when compared to the classic, non-hypervirulent strains (cKP). Consistently, transconjugants that have acquired a rmpA or rmpA2-bearing plasmid were found to exhibit decreased adhesion to various types of human cells, and hence higher survival rate upon exposure to neutrophil cells. We further found that over production of hypermucoviscosity (HMV), but not capsular polysaccharide (CPS), contributed to the reduced binding and phagocytosis. The effect of hypermucoviscosity on enhancing HvKP virulence was further shown in human serum survival assays and animal experiments. Findings in this study therefore confirmed that rmpA/A2-mediated hypermucoviscosity in HvKP plays a key role in the pathogenesis of this organism through conferring the ability to evade neutrophil binding and phagocytosis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2021.1960101hypervirulent k. pneumoniaecapsulehypermucoviscosityneutrophil cellsphagocytosis |
| spellingShingle | Qi Xu Xuemei Yang Edward Wai Chi Chan Sheng Chen The hypermucoviscosity of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae confers the ability to evade neutrophil-mediated phagocytosis Virulence hypervirulent k. pneumoniae capsule hypermucoviscosity neutrophil cells phagocytosis |
| title | The hypermucoviscosity of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae confers the ability to evade neutrophil-mediated phagocytosis |
| title_full | The hypermucoviscosity of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae confers the ability to evade neutrophil-mediated phagocytosis |
| title_fullStr | The hypermucoviscosity of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae confers the ability to evade neutrophil-mediated phagocytosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The hypermucoviscosity of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae confers the ability to evade neutrophil-mediated phagocytosis |
| title_short | The hypermucoviscosity of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae confers the ability to evade neutrophil-mediated phagocytosis |
| title_sort | hypermucoviscosity of hypervirulent k pneumoniae confers the ability to evade neutrophil mediated phagocytosis |
| topic | hypervirulent k. pneumoniae capsule hypermucoviscosity neutrophil cells phagocytosis |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2021.1960101 |
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