Virulence among different types of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae with multi-locus sequence type (MLST)-11, Serotype K1 or K2 strains

BACKGROUND: Two different types of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (HvKp), the MLST-11 and serotype K1/K2 strains, have been frequently described in recent studies. Although these two types of strains were described to be HvKp, their virulence was not compared. In this study, in vitro and in vivo approaches were used to assess differences in virulence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of twenty-nine isolates, including 6 strains of each of serotype K1 and K2 isolates and 17 strains of ST11 isolates, were selected for this study. Phenotypic tests of virulence were performed by the string test and analysis of the virulent associated genes was detected by PCR. In vitro models of serum resistance and phagocytosis were used as the parameters to assess the virulence. In-frame deletion of virulence-associated genes was performed to study their contributions to virulence. The median lethal dose, i.e., the LD(50), in mice was determined following IP injection. RESULTS: Although serotype K1 and K2 strains and ST11 isolates had similar virulence gene profiles, the ST11 isolates showed less serum and phagocytic resistance than the serotype K1/K2 isolates. The mouse lethality test revealed that all ST11 isolates were unable to cause lethality, even at > 10(7) CFU, while serotypes K1 and K2 showed an LD(50) at ≤ 10(3) CFU. Aerobactin or capsule knockout mutants exhibited a lower LD(50) than the parental strain, while capsule mutants showed a more significant decrease in LD(50). CONCLUSION: Since there was a significant difference in virulence levels between the two types of HvKp when assessed in in vitro and in vivo models, it may be better to use the designation "HvKp" for some strains based on animal studies to avoid confusion. Virulence and non-virulence could be analysed in a relative manner, especially in comparison studies. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13099-021-00439-z.