Introduction: Gram-negative bacteria are a major cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and particularly Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), which is a causative agent of 60-70% of community-acquired infections, about 30% of nosocomial UTIs and 20% of recurrent infections.
Materials and methods: Nine urine samples were collected from patients from various clinical departments in King Abdulaziz University Hospital from 2/3/2019 to 2/4/2019. The microbial contents in the urine samples was analysed by urine culture and VITEK analyses. Here, we compared K. pneumoniae proteins profiles to find possible proteins which could shed a light on host-pathogen interactions. The colonies were suspended in a lysing buffer, which then were sonicated, and the proteins contents were separated using 1D SDS-PAGE, analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry LC/MS. Proteins showing different expressions in samples were identified by TripleTOF 5600 mass spectrometer.
Results: All of the Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were ESBL+ and KPC+ as shown on ChromAgar plates. There was no available data on resistance, ESBL or KPC from VITEK2. Hence, ESBL+ or KPC+ data were only obtained from ChromAgar. Additionally, proteomics analysis revealed the following, the total number of different proteins that are expressed from all of the isolates is 2958 proteins. Where in sample U-102, 328 different proteins expressed, 300 different proteins expressed from isolate U-871, 350 different proteins expressed from isolate U-713, in isolate U-755, 378 different proteins were expressed, 207 different proteins expressed from isolate U-754, 305 different proteins expressed from sample U-134, 290 different proteins expressed from isolate U-968, 600 different proteins expressed from isolate U-104, and 200 different proteins expressed from isolate U-659.
Conclusion: The different proteins between the UTI patients indicated specific host pathogen interaction, each isolate expressed different proteins than the other isolate could be reasoned by host pathogen interaction. Host pathogen interaction are influenced by numbers of factor: age, gender, immunity, underling health conditions, antibiotic treatment, acute UTI or recurrent infection all of these factor could have an impact on the type of proteins that are expressed during infection. Even though the isolates are Klebsiella pneumoniae from young females with UTI, they expressed different proteins, these proteins could explain evolutionary development of pathogens and survival in urinary niche, as pathogens need to express certain type of proteins to enable them to live and survival in urinary niche.
Novel Target Exploration from Hypothetical Proteins of Klebsiella pneumoniae MGH 78578 Reveals a Protein Involved in Host-Pathogen Interaction