bla(KPC) RNA expression correlates with two transcriptional start sites but not always with gene copy number in four genera of Gram-negative pathogens

• Published in: Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 2011-08, Vol.55 (8), p.3936-3938
• Main Authors: Roth, Amanda L, Kurpiel, Philip M, Lister, Philip D, Hanson, Nancy D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacterial Proteins - biosynthesis; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; beta-Lactam Resistance; beta-Lactamases - biosynthesis; beta-Lactamases - genetics; beta-Lactams - pharmacology; DNA Fingerprinting; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Enterobacter cloacae - drug effects; Enterobacter cloacae - genetics; Enterobacter cloacae - metabolism; Escherichia coli K12 - drug effects; Escherichia coli K12 - genetics; Escherichia coli K12 - metabolism; Gene Dosage; Gram-Negative Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-Negative Bacteria - genetics; Gram-Negative Bacteria - metabolism; Klebsiella pneumoniae - drug effects; Klebsiella pneumoniae - genetics; Klebsiella pneumoniae - metabolism; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - genetics; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - metabolism; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Transcription Initiation Site
• ISSN: 1098-6596
• DOI: 10.1128/AAC.01509-10

Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing organisms are therapeutically and diagnostically challenging. It is possible that bla(KPC) gene expression plays a role in the variability observed in clinical susceptibility testing. bla(KPC) transformants together with 10 clinical isolates representing four genera were evaluated for bla(KPC) copy number and gene expression and correlated with β-lactam MIC data. The data suggest that mechanisms other than gene copy number and expression of bla(KPC) contribute to variability in susceptibility when testing KPC-producing isolates.