Ziba Dehghani - BioMedical Sciences Department, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. Departmant of Biochemistry, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
ali-Reza Ahmadi - Corresponding Author BioMedical Sciences Department, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
Naeimeh Najafi - BioMedical Sciences Department, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
Behzad Lamerad - Departmant of Biochemistry, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Introduction: Klebsiella pneumoniae is recognized as an important gram-negative opportunistic pathogen. The ability of bacteria to adhere to host structures is considered essential for the development of infections; however, few studies have examined the influence of adhesion factors on K. pneumoniaevirulence. Although this cluster was not identical to the Escherichia coli type 1 fimbriae gene cluster, an overall high degree of structural resemblance was demonstrated. Unique to the K. pneumoniae fim gene cluster is the fimK gene, whose product contains an EAL domain, suggesting that it has a role inregulation of fimbrial expression. The fimK gene product has previously been shown to be involved in type 1 fimbriae expression as deletion of fimK results in a scantily fimbriated phenotype Aim: To detect the presence of putative K. pneumoniae virulence factor, fimK in urinary tract infectionusing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification for phylogenetic analysis. The fimK sequence used to create the dendrogram and genetic diversity. Materials and Methods: Samples were obtained from 70 women patients (20-70 years) undergoingurinary tract infection 14.28% of samples were positive for K. pneumoniae. DNA was extracted fromthe samples and analyzed for fimK corresponding type 1 fimbriae gene cluster using specific primersfor fimK gene and PCR. Using Clustal W and MEGA4 software, the gained subsequence wasalignment with the gene subsequence existing in gene bank and its gene diversity were studied. Results: Among the positive K. pneumoniae samples, fimK gene was identified in all of samples. Also results of this study indicated diversity between gene fimK in Iranian samples and also with otherreports from around the world. Conclusion: Our results suggest K. pneumoniae appears programmed for minimal expression of type 1 fimbria, which may explain, in part, why K. pneumoniae is a less prevalent etiologic agent of UTI than UPEC. Genetic diversity among UTI-causing genes can be difficult to work for universal vaccine. Protected areas can be use to design a vaccine against urinary tract infection.

Klebsiella pneumoniae, type 1 fimbria, fimK, urinary tract infection in women, polymerase chain reaction