Klebsiella pneumoniae and type 3 fimbriae: nosocomial infection, regulation and biofilm formation.
The Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae is responsible for causing a spectrum of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Globally, K. pneumoniae is a frequently encountered hospital-acquired opportunistic pathogen that typically infects patients with indwelling medical devices. Biofilm formation on these devices is important in the pathogenesis of these bacteria, and in K. pneumoniae, type 3 fimbriae have been identified as appendages mediating the formation of biofilms on biotic and abiotic surfaces. The factors influencing the regulation of type 3 fimbrial gene expression are largely unknown but recent investigations have indicated that gene expression is regulated, at least in part, by the intracellular levels of cyclic di-GMP. In this review, we have highlighted the recent studies that have worked to elucidate the mechanism by which type 3 fimbrial expression is controlled and the studies that have established the importance of type 3 fimbriae for biofilm formation and nosocomial infection by K. pneumoniae.
Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Caitlin N
CN
Murphy
Steven
S
Clegg
D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D037521:Virulence Factors; C062025:bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid; D006152:Cyclic GMP