RmpA as a Global Regulator Modulates Switching Between Hypermucoviscosity and Biofilm in Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae [RNA-seq]

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is a significant pathogen causing severe community-acquired infections, characterized by the presence of a virulence plasmid. The plasmid-encoded regulator of mucoid phenotype A (RmpA) activates the expression of capsule genes, resulting in a hypermucoviscosity phenotype strongly associated with increased virulence. RmpA features a LuxR DNA-binding domain and a signaling-responsive domain, typical of proteins that regulate multiple biological processes. However, the comprehensive regulatory mechanisms of RmpA in hvKp remain unclear. Herein, RNA-seq showed that RmpA activates carbohydrate metabolism pathways while repressing those related to DNA replication, ribosome metabolism, and biofilm formation. ChIP-seq further confirmed RmpA's role as a global regulator that not only enhances capsule production by activating transcripts within the capsule locus, but also upregulates the expression of key genes involved in synthesizing capsule precursors. RmpA regulates the phenotypic switch between hypermucoviscosity and biofilm formation by repressing type III fimbriae genes. In addition, Expression of RmpA in Escherichia coli induced global transcriptional changes, suggesting it functions as a global regulator across species. These findings position RmpA as a central regulator in hvKp, orchestrating metabolic pathways and phenotypic traits essential for virulence. Overall design: RNA-seq of Klebsiella dCas9-sgRNA and dCas9-rmpA Escherichia PLB1K and PLB1K-rmpA strains.