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Bacteriophages with depolymerase activity in the control of antibiotic resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilms

Fedor Zurabov1,2, Egor Glazunov3, Tatiana Kochetova3

  • 1Research and Production Center "MicroMir", LLC, Moscow, Russia. fmzurabov@micromir.bio.

Scientific Reports
|September 13, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Bacteriophages effectively disrupt antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilms. This study shows a bacteriophage cocktail can control these dangerous biofilms, offering a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating Klebsiella pneumoniae infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacteriophage Therapy

Background:

  • Klebsiella pneumoniae causes severe infections like pneumonia and bloodstream infections, particularly in healthcare settings.
  • Multidrug-resistant and hypervirulent strains, along with biofilm formation on medical devices, complicate treatment and reduce antibiotic efficacy.
  • Bacteriophage therapy presents a potential alternative to combat Klebsiella pneumoniae infections, especially biofilms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of a bacteriophage cocktail in controlling antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilms in vitro.
  • To investigate the biofilm-disrupting capabilities of bacteriophages with depolymerase activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Main Methods:

  • A cocktail of three bacteriophages with depolymerase activity was employed.
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilms were treated with the bacteriophage cocktail.
  • Biofilms were analyzed using optical and scanning electron microscopy.

Main Results:

  • The bacteriophage cocktail demonstrated significant effectiveness in disrupting Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilms.
  • Microscopic analysis confirmed the ability of the phage cocktail to break down biofilm structures.
  • The depolymerase activity of the bacteriophages contributed to biofilm eradication.

Conclusions:

  • A bacteriophage cocktail is a viable and effective strategy for controlling antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilms.
  • Bacteriophage therapy offers a promising alternative for managing challenging Klebsiella pneumoniae infections, especially those involving biofilms.
  • Further research into bacteriophage applications could lead to novel treatments for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

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