Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42243662›Full record

ArticleBMC microbiology2026

OmpK35/36 modulate the virulence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae by regulating capsular polysaccharide export.

Susu Wu, Ying Zhang, Ying Sheng, Xiaobo Ma, Xinyi Yang, Bin Ma, Dakang Hu

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Susu Wu *Department of Laboratory Medicine, Taizhou Municipal Hospital (Taizhou University Affiliated Municipal Hospital), School of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, 318000, China.
Ying Zhang *Department of Laboratory Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Key Lab of Reproduction and Development, Shanghai Key Lab of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, 200433, Shanghai, China.
Ying Sheng *Taizhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Taizhou Health Supervision Institute), Taizhou, Zhejiang, 318000, China.
Xiaobo MaXiamen Key Laboratory of Genetic Testing, Department of Clinical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361003, China.
Xinyi YangSchool of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, 318000, China.
Bin MaMedical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6149, Australia. B.Ma@murdoch.edu.au.
Dakang HuDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Taizhou Municipal Hospital (Taizhou University Affiliated Municipal Hospital), School of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, 318000, China. slyy_01205@tzc.edu.cn.

Funding

Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission 2023KY1326, 2024KY535Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission 2025KY462
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study aimed to investigate the impact of outer membrane proteins 35 (OmpK35) and 36 on the virulence of Klebsiella pneumoniae and the corresponding mechanisms.

methodsSerotype K1 strain NTUH-K2044 was utilized to create single-deletion mutants (ΔompK35 and ΔompK36) and a double-deletion mutant (ΔompK35/36), alongside their complementation variants. Multiple analyses were performed, including capsule staining, transmission electron microscopy, serum resistance assays, phagocytosis tests, and infection models using mice and Galleria mellonella.

resultsThe mutants retained hypercapsules similar to NTUH-K2044, but looser capsule structures revealed by transmission electron microscopy. All mutants exhibited decreased virulence, with median lethal doses under 5 × 10⁴ colony forming units in mice. Specifically, only ΔompK35/36 showed reduced serum resistance compared to the wild strain, similar for the anti- phagocytosis capabilities. Additionally, ΔompK35 induced liver inflammation, whereas ΔompK36 and ΔompK35/36 exerted milder effects. Despite these differences, all mutants displayed normal growth rates and upregulated expression of gnd and wcaJ, crucial for capsular polysaccharide (CPS) biosynthesis.

conclusionsThe hypercapsule, composed mainly of CPS, plays a crucial role in the hypervirulence of K. pneumoniae. OmpK35/36 may modulate the virulence of K. pneumoniae by regulating CPS export.

Indexed as

Bacterial CapsulesBacterial Outer Membrane ProteinsBacterial ProteinsKlebsiella InfectionsKlebsiella pneumoniaePolysaccharides, BacterialPorinsAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalFemaleGene Expression Regulation, BacterialMiceMothsPhagocytosisVirulenceVirulence FactorsBacterial Outer Membrane ProteinsBacterial ProteinsOmpK36 protein, Klebsiella pneumoniaePolysaccharides, BacterialPorinsVirulence FactorsHypercapsuleKlebsiella pneumoniaeOuter membrane proteinVirulence

Identifiers

PMID42243662
PMCPMC13262359

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.