High polyketide synthase gene expression boosts pathogenicity of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the digestive infection.

The pathogenicity of Klebsiella pneumoniae is continuously on the rise owing to variations in virulence. The polyketide synthase (pks) gene plays a crucial role in the expression of microbial virulence genes. However, Klebsiella pneumoniae, often considered a colonizing bacterium, has been shown to possess significant virulence and antibiotic resistance properties, which might be a significant factor contributing to the persistent difficulty in curing clinical gastrointestinal infections. This study analyzed the pks gene expression in Klebsiella pneumoniae and the associated clinical features in digestive infections over the past year. Gene editing technology and genomic analysis were employed to identify the virulence genes of Klebsiella pneumoniae in digestive tract infections. Experimental results demonstrated that a higher proportion of pks-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae were detected in the digestive tracts of clinical patients, and these strains carried more virulence factors. The clbA gene fragment can be utilized independently as a detection fragment for the pks gene. The pks gene may influence the virulence expression of Klebsiella pneumoniae through different signal pathways associated with other virulent genes. Testing for the pks gene can offer experimental evidence to support clinical treatment decisions.