Molecular characteristics of clinical IMP-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates: novel IMP-90 and integron In2147

BACKGROUND: Since the first report of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in China in 2007, the prevalence of CRKP and CRE has increased significantly. However, the molecular characteristics of IMP-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (IMPKp) are rarely reported. METHODS: A total of 29 IMPKp isolates were collected from a Chinese tertiary hospital from 2011 to 2017. Clinical IMPKp were identified by VITEK(®)MS, and further analyzed by whole-genome DNA sequencing with HiSeq and PacBio RSII sequencer. Sequencing data were analyzed using CSI Phylogeny 1.4, Resfinder, PlasmidFinder and the MLST tool provided by the Centre for Genomic Epidemiology. The analysis results were visualized using iTOL editor v1_1. The open reading frames and pseudogenes were predicted using RAST 2.0 combined with BLASTP/BLASTN searches against the RefSeq database. The databases CARD, ResFinder, ISfinder, and INTEGRALL were performed for annotation of the resistance genes, mobile elements, and other features. The types of bla(IMP) in clinical isolates were determined by BIGSdb-Pasteur. Integrons were drawn by Snapgene, and the gene organization diagrams were drawn by Inkscape 0.48.1. RESULTS: Four novel ST type, including ST5422, ST5423, ST5426 and ST5427 were identified. The IMP-4 and IMP-1 were the dominant IMP type. The majority of bla(IMP)-carrying plasmids belonged to IncN and IncHI5. Two novel bla(IMP)-carrying integrons (In2146 and In2147) were uncovered. A novel variant bla(IMP-90) presented in novel integron In2147 has been identified. CONCLUSIONS: IMPKp showed low prevalence in China. Novel molecular characteristics of IMPKp have been identified. Continuous monitoring of IMPKp shall also be carried out in the future. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12941-023-00588-w.