Comparación genómica de especies de klebsiella secuenciadas en Ecuador: resistencia y diversidad

Abstract

This study analyzed genomes from various species of the genus, obtained from isolates reported in Ecuador between 2020 and 2023, with the aim of exploring their genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. Both local and online bioinformatics tools were used for functional annotation with Prokka, genomic alignments using Mauve and MAFFT, and the construction of a comparative pangenome via Panaroo. Based on metadata associated with each isolate, a molecular clock analysis was performed to observe mutation patterns over time. By cross-referencing with specialized databases, resistance genes against betalactams, aminoglycosides, quinolones, tetracyclines, and others, were identified across multiple species. The results revealed phylogenetic groupings primarily driven by taxonomic differences among the strains, although in some cases, clusters corresponding to geographic or temporal origin were also observed, suggesting potential clonal transmission events. Both conserved and fragmented regions were detected in the genomes, attributable to biological differences or variability in assembly quality. The integration of automatic annotation, phylogenetic and pangenomic analysis, and temporal approaches enabled a comprehensive evaluation of the evolution and dissemination of Klebsiella in the country. Collectively, these findings represent a valuable contribution to genomic surveillance and the control of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in Ecuador.