Molecular dissection ofblaKPC-2-bearing plasmids evolving inKlebsiella pneumoniaeisolated at one teaching hospital in Shanghai, China

The presence of carbapenemase gene blaKPC-2 in a wide variety of plasmids, especially conjugative plasmids, is key to the rapid, worldwide spread of carbapenemase enzymes. Thirty-eight, non-duplicated, carbapenem-resistant, clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were collected, all carrying blaKPC-2-bearing plasmids. Relaxase analysis was used to classify these plasmids; 8 and 30 plasmids belonged to the MOBP3 and MOBF12 subfamilies, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two genetic subclades in the MOBF12 subfamily and suggested that these subclades might not have originated from the same ancestor. Crossing PCR, used to sequence fully the type IV secretion system (T4SS, essential structures for conjugative plasmids) of the MOBF12 plasmids, found that T4SSs were distinctively different in certain functional genes, e.g. traS and traG. In conclusion, this study delineated the evolution of blaKPC-2-bearing plasmids at Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China. The plasmids bearing blaKPC-2 were diverse and the MOBF12 plasmids were dominant in clinical K. pneumoniae isolates.