Klebsiella pneumoniae Type VI Secretion System Contributes to Bacterial Competition, Cell Invasion, Type-1 Fimbriae Expression, and in Vivo Colonization
Journal
Journal of Infectious Diseases
Journal Volume
219
Journal Issue
4
Pages
637-647
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Abstract
We previously isolated a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain, NTUH-K2044, from a community-acquired pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) patient. Analysis of the NTUH-K2044 genome revealed that this strain harbors 2 putative type VI secretion system (T6SS)-encoding gene clusters. The distribution of T6SS genes in the PLA and intestinal-colonizing K pneumoniae clinical isolates was examined. icmF1-, icmF2-, icmF1/icmF2-, and hcp-deficient K pneumoniae strains were constructed using an unmarked deletion method. The roles of T6SSs in antibacterial activity, type-1 fimbriae expression, cell adhesion, and invasion and intestinal colonization were determined. The prevalence of T6SSs is higher in the PLA strains than in the intestinal-colonizing strains (37 of 42 vs 54 of 130). Deletion of icmF1/icmF2 and hcp genes significantly reduced interbacterial and intrabacterial killing. Strain deleted for icmF1 and icmF2 exhibited decreased transcriptional expression of type-1 fimbriae and reduced adherence to and invasion of human colorectal epithelial cells and was attenuated for in vivo competition to enable colonization of the host gut. Finally, Hcp expression in K pneumoniae was silenced by the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein via direct binding. These results provide new insights into T6SS-mediated bacterial competition and attachment in K pneumoniae and could facilitate the prevention of K pneumoniae infection.
SDGs
Other Subjects
virulence factor; animal; bacterial gene; bacterium adherence; Bagg albino mouse; biological model; disease model; endocytosis; epithelium cell; fimbria; gene deletion; genetics; growth, development and aging; human; intestine; Klebsiella infection; Klebsiella pneumoniae; metabolism; microbiology; type VI secretion system; virulence; Animals; Bacterial Adhesion; Disease Models, Animal; Endocytosis; Epithelial Cells; Fimbriae, Bacterial; Gene Deletion; Genes, Bacterial; Humans; Intestines; Klebsiella Infections; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Models, Biological; Type VI Secretion Systems; Virulence; Virulence Factors
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Type
journal article