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Levente Laczkó

Publications and source records attributed to Levente Laczkó.

2 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

Coexistence of carbapenemase and hypervirulence-associated genes among Klebsiella pneumoniae high-risk clones in Hungary.

INTRODUCTION: Strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying hypervirulence and carbapenemase genes represent a rapidly emerging global public health threat. Our study aimed to comprehensively characterise the genomics of hypervirulence-associated and carbapenemase genes carrying K. pneumoniae (hv(a)CpKp) isolates in Hungary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2022 and April 2024, 89 aerobactin (iucA-D/iutA)-positive non-duplicate carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae isolates from 15 Hungarian healthcare institutes underwent short-read (Illumina, MiSeq, NextSeq) whole-genome sequencing, followed by detailed plasmid analysis using long-read sequencing (Nanopore, MinION) in a representative subset of 32 strains. RESULTS: Most isolates (79/89) belonged to the high-risk clone ST147. Hypervirulence-associated (hva) genes-including rmpA/rmpA2, peg344, shiF, iucA-D, and iutA-were universally present, and 59 isolates possessed chromosomally integrated yersiniabactin loci. Most isolates (87/89) carried the bla NDM-1 carbapenemase gene. Hypervirulence-associated genes were most frequently (29/32) associated with IncHI1B/IncFIB(Mar) plasmids. Notably, we identified plasmids carrying both hva and carbapenemase genes-designated as hybrid plasmids-in 13 of 32 strains. The bla NDM-1 was linked to the IS26 transposase and was present in conserved, identical cassettes on all bla NDM-1-carrying plasmids. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Our study identified hv(a)CpKp strains, particularly the ST147 clone, circulating in Hungary. Our findings highlight the need for routine virulence gene monitoring and continuous genomic and plasmid-based surveillance to mitigate the clinical and epidemiological impact of emerging hv(a)CpKp lineages.

Klebsiella pneumoniae↗
PubMed2026

Differences in structural color and population genetic structure of Western and Central Palearctic Polyommatus icarus populations.

The blue structural coloration of male Polyommatus icarus butterflies functions as a sexual signaling trait and exhibits remarkable spectral stability within populations despite being generated by highly complex photonic nanoarchitectures. The correlation of the blue sexual signaling color and population genetic variation of the butterflies was investigated across the Western and Central Palearctic regions. Dorsal wing reflectance spectra was measured for 95 male specimens and compared with the population genetic structure revealed in 99 specimens by 18 recently developed microsatellites. Reflectance measurements indicated a clear separation between the European and Central Asian populations, consistent with our previous findings, while the intermediate populations near the Ural Mountains exhibited distinct European spectral characteristics. In contrast, genetic variation showed limited structuring and correlated primarily with geographic distance, as indicated by a significant isolation-by-distance pattern. Thus, although both reflectance and genetic variations are geographically structured, spectral properties are only weakly correlated with genetic differentiation. Populations near the Ural Mountains exhibited genetic ancestry linked to Central Palearctic groups, while displaying distinct Western Palearctic coloration, suggesting that the focal species' sexual signaling is strongly influenced by local factors. These findings suggest that sexual signaling coloration may evolve at least partially independently of the neutral genetic background, offering additional insight into evolutionary divergence across broad geographic scales.

Animals↗