Thanks Basile! 😊

Huge thanks to everyone involved : Hugo Varet @pasteur.fr, @epcrocha.bsky.social social and my amazing PhD director @olayarendueles.bsky.social

Here, we show a clear example of plug-and-play dynamics in the bacterial chromosome.
It explain the success and versatility of the Klebsiella capsule, giving insights into how complex traits can be repeatedly mobilized without extensive cellular rewiring.

🏥 We show that the capsule’s modular architecture enables seamless horizontal transfer with preserved functionality. Specifically, K1 serotype acquisition drives hypermucoviscosity even without rmpA.

We observed minimal transcriptomic changes, minimal fitness costs and convergent adaptation to a specific environment rather than serotype-specific solutions, hinting for capsule locus modularity. 🧬

🦠 We found that capsule production is highly hierarchical, determined by the capsule type and the genetic background independently.

We swapped capsular loci in five different genetic backgrounds of the nosocomial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae. #phagesky #AMR

🧬 Beyond virulence, capsule changes shape host evolution and is tied to core metabolism. This suggests epistasis, yet their diversity and turnover argue for modularity. @klebclub.bsky.social #microsky