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Klebsiella pneumoniae Phage M198 and Its Therapeutic Potential
Lika Leshkasheli1, Ia Kusradze2,3, Darejan Bolkvadze1,4
1Laboratory of Molecular Biology, G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology, 0160 Tbilisi, Georgia.
Abstract:
The rapid worldwide spread of antibiotic resistance is quickly becoming an increasingly concerning problem for human healthcare. Non-antibiotic antibacterial agents are in high demand for many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, including Klebsiella pneumoniae. Klebsiella-targeting phages are among the most promising alternative therapy options. They have already been successfully applied in a number of cases, and it is expected that the need for anti-Klebsiella phages will only increase in the future. This prospect highlights the need for well-characterized therapeutic phages. In this work, we describe a K. pneumoniae phage, which also infects strains of Klebsiella oxytoca. Here, we characterize phage M198 in terms of its biological and genetic properties. Since in some phage therapy cases, phages are administered in combination with antibiotics, here, we also screen for possible synergistic effects of combining phage M198 with six different antibiotics. We found that phage M198 has good lytic activity against clinical isolates; it does not have any indications of a temperate lifestyle, and it has synergistic potential when combined with some therapeutically relevant antibiotics.
Insights
Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat. Researchers characterized phage M198 for treating Klebsiella infections, finding it effective alone and synergistic with certain antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Phage Therapy
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, like Klebsiella pneumoniae, is a significant global health concern.
- Phage therapy presents a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics for combating bacterial infections.
- There is a critical need for well-characterized bacteriophages (phages) for therapeutic applications against Klebsiella species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the biological and genetic properties of a novel phage, M198, targeting Klebsiella pneumoniae.
- To evaluate the lytic activity of phage M198 against clinical isolates of Klebsiella.
- To investigate potential synergistic effects between phage M198 and clinically relevant antibiotics.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of phage M198 targeting Klebsiella pneumoniae.
- Assessment of phage M198's biological properties, including host range and lytic activity against clinical isolates.
- Genetic analysis to determine the phage's lifestyle (e.g., temperate vs. lytic) and screening for antibiotic synergy.
Main Results:
- Phage M198 demonstrated significant lytic activity against clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca.
- Phage M198 exhibits a non-temperate (lytic) lifestyle, indicating its suitability for therapeutic use.
- Combinations of phage M198 with specific antibiotics showed synergistic antibacterial effects.
Conclusions:
- Phage M198 is a well-characterized lytic phage with potent activity against Klebsiella pathogens.
- Phage M198 holds promise as a standalone therapeutic agent or in combination with antibiotics.
- Further research into phage-antibiotic synergy could enhance treatment strategies against multidrug-resistant Klebsiella infections.
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