Data-Driven Engineering of Phages with Tunable Capsule Tropism for Klebsiella pneumoniae.

ABSTRACT: Klebsiella pneumoniae, a major clinical pathogen known for causing severe infections, is attracting heightened attention due to its escalating antibiotic resistance. Phages are emerging as a promising alternative to antibiotics; however, their specificity to particular hosts often restricts their use. In this study, a collection of 114 phages is obtained and subjected to analysis against 238 clinical K. pneumoniae strains, revealing a spectrum of lytic behaviors. A correlation between putative tail protein clusters and lysis patterns leads to the discovery of six receptor-binding protein (RBP) clusters that determine host capsule tropism. Significantly, RBPs with cross-capsular lysis capabilities are identified. The newly-identified RBPs provide a toolbox for customizing phages to target d

SUBMITTER: Wang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11434222 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature