Purpose: Treatment of infections with Klebsiella pneumoniae  strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) is challenging due to the coexistence of multiple resistance mechanisms and the hypervirulent variant. Therefore, new targets or more effective treatment options aimed at ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae  are urgently needed.
Materials and Methods: Here, we collected ESBL-producing and non-ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae  isolates and studied their differences from a proteomic point of view.
Results: We revealed treA, wza, gnd, rmlA, rmlC, rmlD, galE, aceE, and sucD as important virulence-related proteins in ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae , distinct from those in non-ESBL strains.
Conclusion: Our findings provide plausible anti-virulence targets and suggest new therapeutic avenues against ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae .
Keywords: Klebsiella pneumoniae , extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, proteomics, anti-virulence