Regulation of the Klebsiella pneumoniae Kpc fimbriae by the site-specific recombinase KpcI

• DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.038158-0
• Publication Date: 2010-04-09T00:51:29Z
• Authors: Chien-Chen Wu; Ying-Jung Huang; Chang-Phone Fung; Hwei-Ling Peng
• Keywords: Inverted repeat

In the genome of Klebsiella pneumoniae NTUH-K2044, nine fimbrial gene clusters were identified. Besides type 1 and 3 fimbriae, others are novel named Kpa, Kpb, Kpc, Kpd, Kpe, Kpf Kpg fimbriae. Prevalence analysis among 105 K. clinical isolates revealed that kpc genes highly associated with K1 serotype isolates. Induced expression recombinant kpcABCD in Escherichia coli resulted Kpc fimbriation increased biofilm formation. A putative site-specific recombinase encoding kpcI a 302 bp intergenic DNA flanked by 11 inverted repeats, namely kpcS, identified upstream region genes. Using LacZ as reporter, dramatic difference promoter activity kpcS two different orientations was observed accordingly assigned ON OFF phase. found to be able invert trans from phase vice versa. two-plasmid system, kpcA, major component could upon induced kpcI. These results indicate KpcI is involved regulation phase-variable manner.