Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026
Production of Chemicals by Klebsiella pneumoniae Using Bamboo Hydrolysate as Feedstock
Published on: June 29, 2017
l-Proline protects mice challenged by Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia
Xuedong Chen1, Sihua Qin1, Xin Zhao1
1Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Objective:
K. pneumoniae, a common pathogen that frequently causes bacteremia in clinic, is unresponsive to most of known antibiotics, thus cumulatively exacerbating empirical therapy failures. Effective strategies to control Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia are in high demand. One possibility is to mobilize host defense mechanisms against bacterial pathogens.
Methods:
We employed GC/MS-based metabolomics to identify the changes of metabolism in mice challenged by K. pneumoniae (ATCC 43816) bacteremia.
Results:
Compared with the mice that compromised from K. pneumoniae bacteremia, mice that survived from infection displayed the varied metabolomic profile. The differential analysis of metabolome showed that Ethanedioic acid, d-Glucose, l-Glutamine, Myo-inositol, and l-Proline were more likely associated with the host surviving a K. pneumoniae bacteremia. Further pathway enrichment analysis proposed that arginine and proline metabolism involved in outcome of K. pneumoniae bacteremia. The follow-up data showed that exogenous l-Proline but not d-Proline could decline the loads of Klebsiella pneumonia in infected blood and tissues (lung, liver and spleen) and increase the mouse survival.
Conclusion:
Our study provides an exercisable strategy of identifying metabolic biomarkers from surviving host and highlights the possibility of utilizing the metabolic biomarker as a therapy for K. pneumoniae bacteremia.
Insights
Surviving Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia involves specific metabolic changes. Supplementing with L-proline, an identified metabolic biomarker, effectively reduced bacterial load and improved survival in mice.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Metabolomics
- Immunology
Background:
- Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia is a significant clinical challenge due to antibiotic resistance.
- Developing novel therapeutic strategies to combat K. pneumoniae infections is crucial.
- Mobilizing host defense mechanisms presents a promising avenue for controlling bacteremia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify metabolic alterations associated with survival from K. pneumoniae bacteremia using metabolomics.
- To explore the potential of identified metabolic biomarkers as therapeutic targets.
- To investigate the role of specific metabolites in host defense against K. pneumoniae.
Main Methods:
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS)-based metabolomics was used to analyze metabolic profiles of mice with K. pneumoniae bacteremia.
- Differential metabolite analysis identified key metabolites distinguishing between surviving and non-surviving mice.
- Pathway enrichment analysis pinpointed metabolic pathways involved in the host response.
Main Results:
- Mice surviving K. pneumoniae bacteremia exhibited distinct metabolomic profiles compared to those that succumbed.
- Ethanedioic acid, d-Glucose, l-Glutamine, Myo-inositol, and l-Proline were significantly associated with host survival.
- Arginine and proline metabolism pathways were implicated in the outcome of K. pneumoniae bacteremia.
- Exogenous L-proline administration reduced bacterial loads in blood and tissues and increased survival rates in infected mice.
Conclusions:
- Metabolomic analysis of surviving hosts can identify potential therapeutic biomarkers.
- L-proline emerges as a promising therapeutic candidate for K. pneumoniae bacteremia.
- This study offers a novel strategy for developing host-directed therapies against bacterial infections.
More Related Videos
08:25Visualization of Streptococcus pneumoniae within Cardiac Microlesions and Subsequent Cardiac Remodeling
Published on: April 7, 2015
10:47Using Bioluminescent Imaging to Investigate Synergism Between Streptococcus pneumoniae and Influenza A Virus in Infant Mice
Published on: April 14, 2011
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
01:29Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology
01:16Zones of Protection
Protective zones are defined by closed dashed lines, containing one or more components. A key characteristic of these zones is the strategic placement of...
02:31Protection of Alcohols
Protection
It defines a protecting group as the masking agent to make the more reactive species inert to a given set of conditions. This concept is depicted via the illustration of liquid flow through different outlets in an assembly of pipes. The analogy helps to understand the role...
01:27Protecting Self-Esteem
01:23Radial System Protection
In a radial system with a fault downstream of the third breaker, ideally, only the third breaker will open, isolating the fault and interrupting the load connected beyond it. The second breaker has a longer delay setting,...