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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
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Isolation and Characterization of Two Klebsiella pneumoniae Phages Encoding Divergent Depolymerases

Pilar Domingo-Calap1, Beatriz Beamud2, Lucas Mora-Quilis3

  • 1Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, I2SysBio, Universitat de València-CSIC, and Department of Genetics, Universitat de València, 46980 Paterna, Spain.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|May 6, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Two new bacteriophages, πVLC5 and πVLC6, were isolated to combat multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Their specific depolymerase activity targets certain capsular types, posing challenges for broad clinical use.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Multidrug-resistant bacteria, particularly Klebsiella pneumoniae, pose a significant global health threat.
  • Bacteriophages are emerging as potential therapeutic agents against antibiotic-resistant infections.
  • The hypervariable capsule of K. pneumoniae complicates treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize novel bacteriophages effective against Klebsiella pneumoniae.
  • To investigate the host range and depolymerase activity of newly identified phages.
  • To assess the potential of these phages for therapeutic applications against K. pneumoniae.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of bacteriophages from environmental samples.
  • Phage characterization, including host range determination and genome sequencing.
  • Analysis of tail spike protein and depolymerase activity against K. pneumoniae capsular types.

Main Results:

  • Two new Klebsiella pneumoniae phages, πVLC5 and πVLC6, belonging to the Drulisvirus genus (Podoviridae family), were identified.
  • Both phages exhibit depolymerase activity targeting capsular types K22 and K37.
  • Phage πVLC6 shows broader tropism, infecting K13 and affecting K2 and K3 capsules due to a second depolymerase, while πVLC5 is specific to K22 and K37.

Conclusions:

  • The characterized phages πVLC5 and πVLC6 demonstrate specific activity against certain Klebsiella pneumoniae capsular types.
  • The presence of multiple depolymerases influences phage tropism, as seen in πVLC6.
  • The limited host range of most phages presents a significant challenge for their widespread clinical application against K. pneumoniae.
Keywords:
Klebsiella pneumoniaebacteriophagephage therapywide infection range

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