Aims: Our previous study demonstrated that Klebsiella IIEMP-3 associated with tempeh was genetically different from
those of medical isolates. In addition to the whole genome sequence of Klebsiella IIEMP-3, the draft genome sequence
of another isolate, i.e. IWJB-6 was employed for comparison. In this study, the details of the virulence genes and unique
gene in both Klebsiella isolates were compared employing in silico and in vitro analysis.
Methodology and results: Whole genome of Klebsiella IIEMP-3 and IWJB-6 were annotated to investigate the
virulence factor. Klebsiella IIEMP-3 and IWJB-6 were obtained from tempeh producers in Bogor, West Java - Indonesia.
Genome sequences were analyzed employing BLAST Ring Image Generator (BRIG) software. The results showed that
all of the samples, including isolates IIEMP-3 and IWJB-6 did not harbor rmpA, i.e. DNA sequence for K. pneumoniae
virulence factor.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Klebsiella could be found in almost all tempeh samples from Indonesia
and could be harmless for human due to the absence of rmpA and other virulence-associated genes. The significance of
this study showed that IIEMP-3 and IWJB-6 isolates were more closely related to K. variicola. However, K. variicola At22
harbored sdsA gene which is lacking in those two tempeh isolates. Combined with PCR analysis for specific gene/s;
our study suggested that isolates from Indonesian tempeh were closely related to K. variicola, and proposed to be
designated as K. variicola subsp. tempehensis.