Double copies of blaKPC-3::Tn4401a on an IncX3 plasmid in Klebsiella pneumoniae successful clone ST512 from Italy

Abstract

A carbapenem-resistant sequence type 512 (ST512) Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase 3 (KPC-3)-producing K. pneumoniae strain showing a novel variant plasmid content was isolated in Palermo, Italy, in 2014. ST512 is a worldwide successful clone associated with the spread of blaKPC genes located on the IncFIIk pKpQIL plasmid. In our ST512 strain, the blaKPC-3 gene was unusually located on an IncX3 plasmid, whose complete sequence was determined. Two copies of blaKPC-3::Tn4401a caused by intramolecular transposition events were detected in the plasmid.