Characterization of the blaKPC-2 and blaKPC-3 genes and the novel blaKPC-15 gene in Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Three Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates exhibiting high-level resistance to carbapenem were analysed by PCR, PFGE, gene mapping, plasmid conjugation and Southern blot hybridization using a blaKPC probe. In addition to the frequently reported blaKPC-2 and blaKPC-3 genes, a novel blaKPC-15 gene was identified in one of the isolates. The results of plasmid analysis and Southern blot hybridization revealed that the three blaKPC genes were located on transferable plasmids exhibiting three different patterns. The patterns A, B and C were observed in the genetic makeup of each individual plasmid, and all three structures contained ISKpn6-like and ISKpn8 transposons. The results of the gene mapping and hybridization experiments performed with the blaKPC probe demonstrated that the plasmids harboured the three genes at approximately the 85.0, 54.0 and 73.0 kb positions. The study concluded that carbapenem resistance in the three isolates was primarily due to the production of carbapenem-hydrolysing β-lactamase.
Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Taizhou Municipal Hospital and Institute of Molecular Diagnostics, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Dongguo
D
Wang
Department of Infectious Diseases, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Wei
W
Hou
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School of Taizhou University and Institute of Molecular Diagnostics, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Jiayu
J
Chen
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Yonghua
Y
Mou
Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Linjun
L
Yang
Department of Orthopaedics, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Liqin
L
Yang
Emergency Department, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Xiulian
X
Sun
Department of Paediatrics, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Meiyun
M
Chen
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000494:pharmacology; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015780:Carbapenems; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D001618:beta-Lactamases; C547585:beta-lactamase KPC-2, Klebsiella pneumoniae; C495220:beta-lactamase KPC-3, Klebsiella pneumoniae