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Distribution of mrk genes among uopathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abbas Fallah Vosoughi1, Fatemeh Foroohi1, Shervindokht Ahmadi1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, ShQ.C., Islamic Azad University, Shahr-E Qods, Iran.

Journal of Applied Genetics
|June 18, 2026
PubMed

Insights

This study investigated mrk genes in uropathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae (UPKP), finding varied gene distribution and common antimicrobial resistance patterns. This informs better prevention and treatment strategies for urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • The mrk operon gene clusters are crucial for type 3 fimbriae, which play a role in biofilm formation.
  • Uropathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae (UPKP) is a significant cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
  • Understanding the genetic makeup and resistance patterns of UPKP is essential for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the distribution of mrk genes among UPKP strains.
  • To analyze the correlation between mrk genes, hypermucoviscosity (HMV), and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns in UPKP.
  • To provide data for developing targeted prevention and treatment protocols for UTIs caused by UPKP.

Main Methods:

  • Collection and microbiological confirmation of 104 UPKP isolates from urine samples.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.
  • Assessment of hypermucoviscosity (HMV) using the string test and mrk gene distribution via multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR).

Main Results:

  • mrk gene distribution varied, with mrkF (83.65%), mrkE (37.50%), and mrkD (23.08%) being the most prevalent.
  • 13.46% of UPKP isolates lacked detectable mrk genes.
  • Isolates showed diverse AMR profiles, including multi-drug resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), pan drug-resistant (PDR), and ESBL-producing strains. Notably, HMV strains did not exhibit XDR, PDR, or ESBL phenotypes.

Conclusions:

  • The study successfully characterized mrk gene distribution, HMV, and AMR profiles in UPKP.
  • The observed limited horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between HMV and highly resistant strains suggests specific evolutionary pathways.
  • These findings offer critical insights for combating AMR and managing UTIs effectively.
Keywords:
Klebsiella pneumoniae type 3 fimbrial adhesinAntimicrobial drug resistanceBeta-lactamasesExtensively drug resistanceFimbriae proteinsMultidrug resistanceUrinary tract infections

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