Matthew Lawrenz (@lawrenzlab.bsky.social)

The acquisition of rmpADC can increase virulence of classical Klebsiella pneumoniae in the absence of other hypervirulence-associated genes | mBio Klebsiella pneumoniae is a global pathogen, and gene exchange between hypervirulent (hvKp) and classical (cKp) strains is a rising threat. It is essential to understand how hvKp genes impact virulence phenotypes and identify the cKp strain backgrounds most amenable to enhanced virulence. Hypermucoviscosity (HMV) is a critical virulence factor in hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, conferred by the rmpADC locus. The rmp genes are encoded on mobile genetic elements and have been detected in convergent antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae strains of concern. In this study, we explored the impact of rmp acquisition in a broad set of classical clinical isolates. We observed that HMV appears necessary, but not sufficient, for increased virulence. Sequence type, capsule type, and HMV capacity could not predict which classical isolates gain an rmp-dependent colonization benefit. These insights increase our understanding of the distinctions between cKp and hvKp and further our ability to identify and treat new strains of concern. https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.03122-25