Klebsiella is a genus of Gram-negative, factultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that occur widely in nature and commonly found in the human intestinal tract. They are frequently the cause of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) urinary and pulmonary infections, as well as wound infections. Species include K. pneumoniae (K. friendlanderi), responsible for Friedlander’s pneumonia; K. pneumoniae ozaenae, responsible for ozena and other respiratory diseases; and K. rhinoscleromatis, responsible for rhinoscleroma (nodules that form on the nose and nasopharynx).
Not too many years ago, tests were being performed on genetically engineered food in Germany. A biotech firm had taken a common soil bacterium from the Klebsiella genus (K. planticula), that helps break down fibrous plant material to produce ethanol. It was thought that the waste from this process could be returned back to the soil as fertilizer instead of being dumped. But a doctoral student named Michael Holmes (Oregon State University) decided to add this bacterially-induced waste back into living soil to see what would happen. Seeds were planted and actually sprouted. Then all of them died. It was found that the genetically engineered Klebsiella became highly competative for the native soil microorganisms, especially that of the vital mycorrhysal fungi which helps plants grow. In addition, scientists discovered that the genetically modified bacteria were able to persist in the soil, making it almost impossible to get rid of. Had this one student not followed through on his inquisitiveness, great devastation would have occurred because the EPA was ready to approve this new concept. (Robbins)
