Co-occurrence of blaIMP-4 and blaKPC-2 in a clinical isolate and global evolutionary genomics of Klebsiella grimontii.
6 affiliations
- 1Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- 2Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis Mechanism and Control of Inflammatory-Autoimmune Disease of Hebei Province, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071000, China.
- 3School of Life Sciences, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
- 4Department of Laboratory MedicineSchool of MedicineTaizhou Key Laboratory of Infection and Tumor Immunology, Taizhou Municipal Hospital (Taizhou University Affiliated Municipal Hospital), Taizhou University, Taizhou, 318000, Zhejiang, China.
- 5Department of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Taizhou Municipal Hospital (Taizhou University Affiliated Municipal Hospital), Taizhou University, Taizhou, China.
- 6Department of Laboratory MedicineSchool of MedicineTaizhou Key Laboratory of Infection and Tumor Immunology, Taizhou Municipal Hospital (Taizhou University Affiliated Municipal Hospital), Taizhou University, Taizhou, 318000, Zhejiang, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Klebsiella grimontii is a recently confirmed member of the Klebsiella oxytoca complex with significant clinical importance. As an opportunistic pathogen, reports of infections it causes are increasing, and the associated threats warrant attention. However, its phylogeny and epidemiological patterns remain poorly studied.Methods
In this study, we identified a strain of Klebsiella grimontii, designated K767, simultaneously carrying the carbapenemase genes blaIMP-4 and blaKPC-2 through phenotypic assays and sequencing techniques from a tertiary hospital in Zhejiang Province, China. After performing whole-genome analysis of this strain, we integrated data from the NCBI public database, incorporating genomic information from a total of 235 Klebsiella grimontii strains for in-depth bioinformatics analysis.Results
Genomic analysis revealed that in strain K767, blaIMP-4 is located on an IncHI5-type plasmid. This plasmid harbors multiple resistance modules and is highly conserved among similar plasmids originating from China. blaKPC-2 is located on an IncFII:IncFIA-type hybrid plasmid, a type predominantly found in Klebsiella species within China. Analysis of the 235 global strains indicated spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the distribution of sequenced isolates, with Europe contributing the most genomes. A total of 76 sequence types were identified, with Cluster III being the predominant evolutionary clade. The strains carried 75 acquired antimicrobial resistance genes, including various carbapenemase genes, and a significant co-occurrence was observed between certain resistance genes and specific plasmid replicons.Conclusion
This study reports a strain of Klebsiella grimontii simultaneously carrying blaIMP-4 and blaKPC-2. These genes are carried by an IncHI5-type conjugative plasmid and an IncFII:IncFIA-type hybrid plasmid, respectively, both of which have been detected in sequenced isolates from China. Global population analysis suggests that this species exhibits high genetic diversity, with spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the distribution of sequenced isolates, and that plasmids may serve as potential vehicles for resistance genes. The findings provide an important basis for the clinical prevention and control of such resistant pathogens.
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BibTeX
@article{zheng2026cooccurrence,
title = {{Co-occurrence of blaIMP-4 and blaKPC-2 in a clinical isolate and global evolutionary genomics of Klebsiella grimontii.}},
author = {Yali Zheng and Zhouguang Jiao and Xin Lin and Yu Zhang and Jianbo Ye and Jian Lan and Huimin Chen and Xinhua Luo},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12866-026-05448-z},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42907970},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Co-occurrence of blaIMP-4 and blaKPC-2 in a clinical isolate and global evolutionary genomics of Klebsiella grimontii.
AU - Yali Zheng
AU - Zhouguang Jiao
AU - Xin Lin
AU - Yu Zhang
AU - Jianbo Ye
AU - Jian Lan
AU - Huimin Chen
AU - Xinhua Luo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC microbiology
DO - 10.1186/s12866-026-05448-z
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42907970
AB - Background Klebsiella grimontii is a recently confirmed member of the Klebsiella oxytoca complex with significant clinical importance. As an opportunistic pathogen, reports of infections it causes are increasing, and the associated threats warrant attention. However, its phylogeny and epidemiological patterns remain poorly studied.Methods In this study, we identified a strain of Klebsiella grimontii, designated K767, simultaneously carrying the carbapenemase genes blaIMP-4 and blaKPC-2 through phenotypic assays and sequencing techniques from a tertiary hospital in Zhejiang Province, China. After performing whole-genome analysis of this strain, we integrated data from the NCBI public database, incorporating genomic information from a total of 235 Klebsiella grimontii strains for in-depth bioinformatics analysis.Results Genomic analysis revealed that in strain K767, blaIMP-4 is located on an IncHI5-type plasmid. This plasmid harbors multiple resistance modules and is highly conserved among similar plasmids originating from China. blaKPC-2 is located on an IncFII:IncFIA-type hybrid plasmid, a type predominantly found in Klebsiella species within China. Analysis of the 235 global strains indicated spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the distribution of sequenced isolates, with Europe contributing the most genomes. A total of 76 sequence types were identified, with Cluster III being the predominant evolutionary clade. The strains carried 75 acquired antimicrobial resistance genes, including various carbapenemase genes, and a significant co-occurrence was observed between certain resistance genes and specific plasmid replicons.Conclusion This study reports a strain of Klebsiella grimontii simultaneously carrying blaIMP-4 and blaKPC-2. These genes are carried by an IncHI5-type conjugative plasmid and an IncFII:IncFIA-type hybrid plasmid, respectively, both of which have been detected in sequenced isolates from China. Global population analysis suggests that this species exhibits high genetic diversity, with spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the distribution of sequenced isolates, and that plasmids may serve as potential vehicles for resistance genes. The findings provide an important basis for the clinical prevention and control of such resistant pathogens.
SN - 1471-2180
ER -