Genomic diversity of citrate fermentation in Klebsiella pneumoniae

Using a genomic microarray containing probe sequences from multiple K. pneumoniae strains, we investigated genetic diversity among K. pneumoniae clinical isolates and found that a genomic region containing the citrate fermentation genes was not universally present in all strains. We confirmed by PCR analysis that the gene cluster was detectable in about half of the strains tested. To demonstrate the metabolic function of the genomic region, anaerobic growth of K. pneumoniae in artificial urine medium (AUM) was examined for ten strains with different clinical histories and genomic backgrounds, and the citrate fermentation potential was found correlated with the genomic region. PCR detection of the genomic region yielded high positive rates among a variety of clinical isolates collected from urine, blood, wound infection, and pneumonia. Conserved genetic organizations in the vicinity of the citrate fermentation gene clusters among K. pneumoniae, Salmonella enterica, and Escherichia coli suggest that the13-kb genomic region were not independently acquired.Not all, but nearly half of the K. pneumoniae clinical isolates carry the genes responsible for anaerobic growth on citrate. Genomic variation of citrate fermentation genes in K. pneumoniae may contribute to metabolic diversity and adaptation to variable nutrient conditions in different environments.Citrate, a ubiquitous natural compound that exists in all living cells, can be used by several enterobacterial species as a carbon and energy source. Klebsiella pneumoniae has been known to be able to grow anaerobically with citrate as the sole carbon source. During the past decade, the physiology, biochemistry, and regulation of this pathway have been extensively studied in K. pneumoniae [1-4]. The fermentation process involves uptake of citrate by a Na+ -dependent citrate carrier, cleavage into oxaloacetate and acetate by citrate lyase, and decarboxylation of oxaloacetate to pyruvate by oxaloacetate decarboxylase. Finall