Lu, Siyu, Sheng, Jie, Ter-Stepanyan, Mary M, Wang, Yingxiong and Mkrtchyan, Hermine (2026) Genomic characterization of an ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 recovered from a hospitalized patient in Armenia. Microbiology Spectrum, 14 (8).

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Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type 147 (ST147) is a globally disseminated multidrug-resistant (MDR) clone associated with hospital outbreaks, yet genomic data from low-income countries remain scarce. Here, we report the first genomic characterization of an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing K. pneumoniae ST147 isolate (ARM07) recovered from a hospitalized patient in Armenia. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed resistance to multiple antibiotic classes, while genomic analysis identified seven antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, namely, strA, strB, blaCTX-M-15, blaSHV-11, sul2, qnrS1, and catII.2, consistent with its multidrug-resistant phenotype. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ARM07 clustered closely with nine Russian ST147 isolates, with divergence estimated around 2014 (95% CI: 2009 to 2018), suggesting a recent common ancestor. Compared with its Russian relatives, ARM07 carried fewer AMR and virulence determinants, implying lower selective pressure in Armenia. Nevertheless, ARM07 harbored a distinct plasmid profile, IncFIB(pKPHS1), IncR, IncFIA(pBK30683), and Col440I, and the insertion sequence (IS) ISKpn19 adjacent to AMR genes, indicating ongoing genomic plasticity and potential for further resistance acquisition. Our findings highlight the importance of genomic surveillance in Armenia and similar settings for monitoring the emergence and spread of high-risk K. pneumoniae ST147 lineages, providing essential evidence to guide targeted antimicrobial stewardship and infection control strategies.

IMPORTANCE:
We report the first in-depth genomic analysis of an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 isolate (ARM07) recovered from a hospitalized patient in Armenia, a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) where genomic surveillance capacity remains severely limited. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed resistance to multiple antibiotic classes, while genomic analysis identified seven antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, namely, strA, strB, blaCTX-M-15, blaSHV-11, sul2, qnrS1, and catII.2, consistent with its multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ARM07 shares a recent common ancestor with Russian ST147 isolates but has since diverged, possessing distinct AMR determinants, virulence features, and plasmid repertoire, likely shaped by local selective pressures. The identification of this high-risk clone in Armenia highlights the potential for regional dissemination of clinically important K. pneumoniae lineages in settings with limited genomic surveillance capacity.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1128/spectrum.03773-25
Keywords:	Klebsiella pneumoniae, whole-genome sequencing, ESBL-producing, ST147
Subjects:	Medicine and health > Microbiology Medicine and health > Clinical medicine
Date Deposited:	08 Sep 2026
Dates:	Date Publication status 17 February 2026 Accepted 16 July 2026 Published
School, department or research centre:	School of Medicine and Biosciences
Keywords:	Klebsiella pneumoniae, whole-genome sequencing, ESBL-producing, ST147
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/15302

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