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Review
. 2024 Jun;64(2):389-401.
doi: 10.1007/s12088-024-01247-0. Epub 2024 Mar 27.

Virulence Factors in Klebsiella pneumoniae: A Literature Review

Adriano de Souza Santos Monteiro  1 , Soraia Machado Cordeiro  2 , Joice Neves Reis  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Virulence Factors in Klebsiella pneumoniae: A Literature Review

Adriano de Souza Santos Monteiro et al. Indian J Microbiol. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae, a member of the autochthonous human gut microbiota, utilizes a variety of virulence factors for survival and pathogenesis. Consequently, it is responsible for several human infections, including urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, liver abscess, meningitis, bloodstream infections, and medical device-associated infections. The main studied virulence factors in K. pneumoniae are capsule-associated, fimbriae, siderophores, Klebsiella ferric iron uptake, and the ability to metabolize allantoin. They are crucial for virulence and were associated with specific infections in the mice infection model. Notably, these factors are also prevalent in strains from the same infections in humans. However, the type and quantity of virulence factors may vary between strains, which defines the degree of pathogenicity. In this review, we summarize the main virulence factors investigated in K. pneumoniae from different human infections. We also cover the specific identification genes and their prevalence in K. pneumoniae, especially in hypervirulent strains.

Keywords: Hypervirulence; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Virulence factors; Virulence genes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestThe authors declare no conflicts/competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic representation of the main virulence factors of Klebsiella pneumoniae
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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