Investigation of Klebsiella pneumoniae virulence factors and discovery of new antimicrobial agents for its infection

• Project/Area Number: 24K19861
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57020:Oral pathobiological science-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: LE NGUYEN・TRA・MI 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(歯), 助教 (20897904)
• Project Period (FY): 2024-04-01 – 2027-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2024)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2026: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2024: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: Klebsiella pneumoniae / virulence factors / antimicrobial agents

Outline of Research at the Start

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and hypervirulent K. pneumoniae is a global life-threatening pathogen. Hypermucoviscosity (HMV) is one of the virulence factors in K. pneumoniae. Besides, K. pneumoniae produced several kinds of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) called bacteriocins, which are considered as its virulence factors but could also be applied as promising alternative treatments for MDR bacteria. My study will investigate the novel regulatory mechanism of HMV phenotype of K. pneumoniae and identifying new bacteriocins that are effective against K. pneumoniae and other problematic species.