Decoding the Plasmid-Driven Transition of Klebsiella pneumoniae from Commensal to Invasive Pathogen

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a type of bacteria that normally lives harmlessly in the human gut. However, it can also become dangerous, causing life-threatening infections in the lungs, liver, and bloodstream. This transformation is especially concerning because the bacterium caused an estimated 600,000 deaths in 2019, and is one of the top three global threats linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), making infections harder to treat with antibiotics. Scientists suspect that plasmids ;small, mobile pieces of DNA; play a key role in this transformation. Plasmids can carry genes that help bacteria resist antibiotics, kill competing bacteria, or become more infectious. However, we still dont fully understand how these plasmids influence K. pneumoniae ability to shift from harmless to harmful.My research will investigate the role of plasmids in this process. In the first part of the study, I will examine a specific group of genes on plasmids that seem to help K. pneumoniae kill other bacteria. I will determine how common these genes are in strains linked to severe infections. In the second part, I will search for new plasmid genes that may contribute to K. pneumoniae ability to cause disease. Using advanced genome sequencing, I will analyze DNA from over 2,000 K. pneumoniae samples to uncover patterns linking plasmid genes to harmful infections. By understanding the factors that drive K. pneumoniae dangerous transformation, this work could inform new strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant infections and improve global health.