PCR-RFLP detection of the fimH virulence gene in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae

Authors

  • Gómez-García A.K. Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico Author https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9222-8171
  • Vega-Castillo U. Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico Author https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1796-8845
  • Hernández-Sánchez N.F. Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico Author https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9578-9464
  • Beltrán-López E. Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8604-2847
  • Sosa-Sillas E.C. Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0869-4777
  • Bueno-González E. Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico Author https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7586-1542
  • Contreras-Méndez J.A. Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico Author https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4085-0670
  • León-Sicairos C.R. Laboratory 19: Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, CA-UAS-264, Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico Author
  • López Moreno H.S. Faculty of Chemical Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7391-205X

Keywords:

Klebsiella pneumoniae, fimH, Bacterial virulence

Abstract

In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) published its list of priority bacterial pathogens, in which Klebsiella pneumoniae was ranked first in the critical-priority category. This classification reflects the increasing detection of carbapenem-resistant strains associated with in-hospital mortality rates exceeding 30%, combined with the presence of multiple virulence genes encoded on both the chromosome and plasmids. In this context, our research group initiated the study of several genes related to virulence and antimicrobial resistance. The aim of the present study was to detect the gene encoding the FimH adhesin, a component of type 1 fimbriae implicated in biofilm formation, in clinical strains of K. pneumoniae. Ten clinical strains (Kp1–Kp10) and the ATCC 13883 reference strain (included as a positive control) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with confirmation by BamHI restriction digestion (RFLP analysis). The results showed the presence of the fimH gene in 80% of the clinical strains tested (8/10), and its absence in the remaining two strains (Kp1 and Kp7). In conclusion, a high frequency of the fimH gene was identified among the evaluated clinical strains, providing a molecular basis for the comprehensive characterization of virulence factors in this bacterium of critical global importance.

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Author Biographies

  • Gómez-García A.K., Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico

    She is a student at the Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa, enrolled in the Bachelor’s degree in Genomic Biotechnology with a specialization in the area of Molecular Biomedicine. Contact e-mail: anagomez.fcqb@uas.edu.mx

  • Vega-Castillo U., Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico

    He is a student at the Autonomous University of Sinaloa and is pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the Autonomous University of Sinaloa. He has published 1 article in an indexed journal and 1 article in a peer-reviewed journal. He has participated in 5 national and international conferences. Throughout his trajectory, he has supervised 1 undergraduate thesis in the area of Molecular Biomedicine. Contact e-mail: ulisesvega.fcqb@uas.edu.mx

  • Hernández-Sánchez N.F., Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico

    She is a graduate student in the Biomedical Sciences postgraduate program at the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Genomic Biotechnology awarded by the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS). Contact e-mail: nubiahernandez.fcqb@uas.edu.mx

  • Beltrán-López E., Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico

    She is a Professor/Researcher at the Autonomous University of Sinaloa and holds a Master’s degree in Forensic Sciences awarded by the Marist University of Guadalajara. She has published 8 articles in indexed journals, accumulating to date 38 citations and an h-index of 4. She has participated in 24 national and international conferences. Throughout her career, she has supervised 3 undergraduate theses and 2 master’s theses in the areas of Biology and Chemistry, and Health Biotechnology. Additionally, she currently serves as a thesis advisor for a master’s student and is involved in teaching courses and laboratory practices in Clinical Analysis, Hematology, and Special Laboratory Tests. Contact e-mail: evabeltran@uas.edu.mx

  • Sosa-Sillas E.C., Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico

    She is a student at the Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa, enrolled in the Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences with a specialization in the area of Molecular Biomedicine. Contact e-mail: evacristina.fcqb@uas.edu.mx

  • Bueno-González E., Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico

    He is a student at the Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa, enrolled in the Bachelor’s degree in Genomic Biotechnology with a specialization in the area of Health Biotechnology. Contact e-mail: emilianobueno.fcqb@uas.edu.mx

  • Contreras-Méndez J.A., Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, CA-UAS-264, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico

    She is a student at the Autonomous University of Sinaloa and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Genomic Biotechnology awarded by the Autonomous University of Sinaloa. Additionally, she is currently a student in the Master’s program in Biomedical Sciences at the Autonomous University of Sinaloa. Contact e-mail: jimenacontreras.fcqb@uas.edu.mx

  • León-Sicairos C.R., Laboratory 19: Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, CA-UAS-264, Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, ZIP Code 80010, Sinaloa, Mexico

    She is a Professor/Researcher at the Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences and holds a PhD in Experimental Pathology awarded by the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV-IPN). She is a member of the National System of Researchers (SNII) at Level 1, of the SSIT as an Honorary Researcher, and holds the PRODEP Profile. She has published 25 articles in indexed journals and 30 articles in peer-reviewed journals, accumulating to date 590 citations and an h-index of 12. She has participated in 120 national and international conferences. Throughout her career, she has supervised 21 undergraduate theses, 5 master’s theses, and 3 doctoral dissertations in the area of Health. Additionally, she is a member of an academic body, technical council, academic areas, international academic associations, and serves as a reviewer for indexed journals. Contact e-mail: claudialeonsicairos@uas.edu.mx

  • López Moreno H.S., Faculty of Chemical Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa

    He is a Professor/Researcher at the Autonomous University of Sinaloa and holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences awarded by the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He is a member of the National System of Researchers (SNII) at Level 2, of the SSIT as an Honorary Researcher, and holds the PRODEP Profile. He has published 48 articles in indexed journals and 8 articles in peer-reviewed journals, accumulating to date 440 citations and an h-index of 12. He has participated in 54 national and international conferences. Throughout his career, he has supervised 46 undergraduate theses, 19 master’s theses, and 5 doctoral dissertations in the areas of Biology and Chemistry. Additionally, he is a co-founder of the Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences and the Bachelor’s degree in Genomic Biotechnology at UAS, and currently serves as Coordinator of the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program accredited by SNP 2025. Contact e-mail: hslmoreno@ms.uas.edu.mx

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Published

2026-01-21

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No. 4 (2025): QUIBIOUAS Revista de Ciencias Químico Biológicas

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How to Cite

Gómez-García, A. K., Vega-Castillo, U., Hernández-Sánchez, N. F., Beltrán-López, E., Sosa-Sillas, E. C., Bueno-González, E., Contreras Méndez , J. A., León-Sicairos, C. del R., & López Moreno, H. S. (2026). PCR-RFLP detection of the fimH virulence gene in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae. QUIBIOUAS, Journal of Biological Chemical Sciences, 4, 38-45. https://revistas.uas.edu.mx/index.php/QBU/article/view/1386