The genome of a clinical Klebsiella variicola strain reveals virulence-associated traits and a pl9-like plasmid

Abstract

Klebsiella species frequently cause clinically relevant human infections worldwide. We report the draft genome sequence of a Brazilian clinical isolate (Bz19) of the recently recognized species Klebsiella variicola. The comparison of Bz19 genome content with the At-22 (environmental K. variicola) and several clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae shows that these species share a set of virulence-associated determinants. Of note, this K. variicola strain harbours a plasmid-like element that shares the same backbone present in a multidrug-resistant plasmid found in a clinical K. pneumoniae isolated in USA.