Phages against Noncapsulated Klebsiella pneumoniae: Broader Host range, Slower Resistance.

ABSTRACT: Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp), a human gut colonizer and opportunistic pathogen, is a major contributor to the global burden of antimicrobial resistance. Virulent bacteriophages represent promising agents for decolonization and therapy. However, the majority of anti-Kp phages that have been isolated thus far are highly specific to unique capsular types (anti-K phages), which is a major limitation to phage therapy prospects due to the highly polymorphic capsule of Kp. Here, we report on an original anti-Kp phage isolation strategy, using capsule-deficient Kp mutants as hosts (anti-K^d phages). We show that anti-K^d phages have a broad host range, as the majority are able to infect noncapsulated mutants of multiple genetic sublineages and O-types. Additionally, anti-K^d<

SUBMITTER: Lourenco M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10433977 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature