Study of the contribution of polyamine biosynthesis and transport pathways to the pathogenicity of Klebsiella pneumoniae

• Grant number: 18/26203-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2019
• End date: May 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Lúcio Fábio Caldas Ferraz
• Grantee: Lúcio Fábio Caldas Ferraz
• Host Institution: Universidade São Francisco (USF). Campus Bragança Paulista. Bragança Paulista , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium and considered an opportunistic pathogen. This bacterium has become a global public health problem in recent years due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant and hypervirulent clinical isolates. Polyamines are essential nutrients for cell metabolism, and in many bacteria they are involved in several aspects of pathogenicity, such as biofilm formation, evasion of phagocytosis, toxin production, and resistance to acid and oxidative stress. However, the role of polyamines in the pathogenicity of Klebsiella pneumoniae is still poorly understood. This study aims to generate a strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae mutant for polyamines biosynthesis and, then, characterize the mutant strain by means of coculture cellular assays with host eukaryotic cells and in vivo pulmonary infection in animal models. This project also aims to evaluate the potential of PotD polyamine receptor as a vaccine candidate. The present study intends to reach a better understanding of the metabolism of polyamines in Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the role that these molecules play in the pathogenicity of this bacterium. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

INACIO GOMES, ANA ERIKA; PACHECO, THAISY; DOS SANTOS, CRISTIANE DA SILVA; PEREIRA, JOSE AIRES; RIBEIRO, MARCELO LIMA; DARRIEUX, MICHELLE; CALDAS FERRAZ, LUCIO FABIO. Functional Insights From KpfR, a New Transcriptional Regulator of Fimbrial Expression That Is Crucial for Klebsiella pneumoniae Pathogenicity. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 11, JAN 21 2021. (13/13949-9, 08/11365-1, 18/26203-9, 13/06042-7)

PACHECO, THAISY; GOMES, ANA ERIKA INACIO; SIQUEIRA, NATHALIA MARIA GONCALVES; ASSONI, LUCAS; DARRIEUX, MICHELLE; VENTER, HENRIETTA; FERRAZ, LUCIO FABIO CALDAS. SdiA, a Quorum-Sensing Regulator, Suppresses Fimbriae Expression, Biofilm Formation, and Quorum-Sensing Signaling Molecules Production in Klebsiella pneumoniae. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 12, JUN 21 2021. (15/26524-1, 18/26203-9)