A Virulence Associated Siderophore Importer Reduces Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Klebsiella pneumoniae

The accessory genomes of many pathogenic bacteria include ABC transporters that scavenge metal by siderophore uptake and contribute to antimicrobial resistance multidrug efflux. There are mechanistic recently recognized structural similarities between importer proteins efflux pumps. Here we investigated the influence YbtPQ on Klebsiella pneumoniae . is encoded in yersiniabactin cluster a prevalent mobile genetic element ICEKp, also common pathogenicity islands Escherichia coli Yersinia species, where enhances virulence. Deletion ICEKp increased susceptibility K. all antimicrobials tested. mechanism was dependent may involve efflux, since it affected inhibitor reserpine. naturally highly mobile, indeed genome as reservoir genes for emergence hospital outbreak strains transfer other Gram-negative pathogens. Introduction or plasmid encoding YbtPQ, E. decreased its broad range antimicrobials. Thus confirmed importer, rapidly evolving capable interspecies transfer, have secondary function exporting