title: Plasmid-Mediated Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence in Gram-negatives: theKlebsiella pneumoniaeParadigm.
abstract: Plasmids harbor genes coding for specific functions including virulence factors and antibiotic resistance that permit bacteria to survive the hostile environment found in the host and resist treatment. Together with other genetic elements such as integrons and transposons, and using a variety of mechanisms, plasmids participate in the dissemination of these traits resulting in the virtual elimination of barriers among different kinds of bacteria. In this article we review the current information about physiology and role in virulence and antibiotic resistance of plasmids from the gram-negative opportunistic pathogenKlebsiella pneumoniae. This bacterium has acquired multidrug resistance and is the causative agent of serious communityand hospital-acquired infections. It is also included in the recently defined ESKAPE group of bacteria that cause most of US hospital infections.
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834-6850, United States ; Institute of Microbiology and Medical Parasitology, National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Medical Parasitology, National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: German M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Traglia
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834-6850, United States.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834-6850, United States.
authors.forename: Tung
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834-6850, United States.
authors.forename: Marcelo E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Tolmasky
keywords: Klebsiella; eskape; gram-negative; xer recombination