Molecular Characterization and Mutational Analysis of Virulence Genes in Clinical Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae Obtained from Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen implicated in various nosocomial and community-acquired infections. This study aimed to investigate key virulence factors contributing to the pathogenicity of K. pneumoniae. A total of 100 bacterial isolates were analyzed, of which K. pneumoniae was identified through 16S rRNA sequencing. The remaining isolates were classified as Escherichia coli, Citrobacter, and Shigella species. The virulence potential of K. pneumoniae was assessed by detecting the presence of the cnf1 and sfa genes, which were identified in 7% and 17% of the isolates, respectively. Despite their low prevalence, these genes were sufficient to enhance the pathogenic capacity of the bacteria. Mutational analysis revealed genetic variations in the cnf1 gene, although these mutations were pre-existing within the analyzed strains.