“Sichuanvirus”, a novel bacteriophage viral genus, able to lyse carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract Background Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a severe threat for human health and urgently needs new therapeutic approaches. Lytic bacteriophages (phages) are promising clinically viable therapeutic options against CRKP. We attempted to isolate lytic phages against CRKP o...

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Main Authors: Juan Li, Qingqing Fang, Huan Luo, Yan Feng, Yu Feng, Zhiyong Zong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-024-03736-0
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author Juan Li
Qingqing Fang
Huan Luo
Yan Feng
Yu Feng
Zhiyong Zong
author_facet Juan Li
Qingqing Fang
Huan Luo
Yan Feng
Yu Feng
Zhiyong Zong
author_sort Juan Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a severe threat for human health and urgently needs new therapeutic approaches. Lytic bacteriophages (phages) are promising clinically viable therapeutic options against CRKP. We attempted to isolate lytic phages against CRKP of sequence type 11 and capsular type 64 (ST11-KL64), the predominant type in China. Results We recovered a lytic phage from sewage collected at a wastewater treatment station in Sichuan province, China. We obtained the genome of this phage and found that it is distinct from all known phages with the highest overall DNA similarity (12.5%, 16% coverage and 78.4% identity) with phage vB_EcoM_PHB05 (accession no. NC_052652) in ICTV. This phage represents a novel viral genus of the subfamily Stephanstirmvirinae, for which we proposed “Sichuanvirus” as the genus name. This phage has a narrow host range lyse specific for KL64 Klebsiella. This phage has no genes referring to antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and lysogen and is stable to a wide range of pH and temperatures. We also obtained three bacterial mutants resistant to the phage and performed genome sequencing for them. We therefore discovered that the interruption of a capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis-related gene wcaJ by insertion sequences mediated the resistance to this phage. Conclusion We recovered and characterized a phage of “Sichuanvirus”, a novel viral genus of subfamily Stephanstirmvirinae, which is suitable for phage therapy. The discovery of this phage expands the arsenal against CRKP.
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-0a666c7f918e4a75b85f15e8592fd9b82025-01-19T12:12:27ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802025-01-012511810.1186/s12866-024-03736-0“Sichuanvirus”, a novel bacteriophage viral genus, able to lyse carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniaeJuan Li0Qingqing Fang1Huan Luo2Yan Feng3Yu Feng4Zhiyong Zong5Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityCenter of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityLaboratory of Pathogen Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityCenter of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityLaboratory of Pathogen Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityCenter of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityAbstract Background Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a severe threat for human health and urgently needs new therapeutic approaches. Lytic bacteriophages (phages) are promising clinically viable therapeutic options against CRKP. We attempted to isolate lytic phages against CRKP of sequence type 11 and capsular type 64 (ST11-KL64), the predominant type in China. Results We recovered a lytic phage from sewage collected at a wastewater treatment station in Sichuan province, China. We obtained the genome of this phage and found that it is distinct from all known phages with the highest overall DNA similarity (12.5%, 16% coverage and 78.4% identity) with phage vB_EcoM_PHB05 (accession no. NC_052652) in ICTV. This phage represents a novel viral genus of the subfamily Stephanstirmvirinae, for which we proposed “Sichuanvirus” as the genus name. This phage has a narrow host range lyse specific for KL64 Klebsiella. This phage has no genes referring to antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and lysogen and is stable to a wide range of pH and temperatures. We also obtained three bacterial mutants resistant to the phage and performed genome sequencing for them. We therefore discovered that the interruption of a capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis-related gene wcaJ by insertion sequences mediated the resistance to this phage. Conclusion We recovered and characterized a phage of “Sichuanvirus”, a novel viral genus of subfamily Stephanstirmvirinae, which is suitable for phage therapy. The discovery of this phage expands the arsenal against CRKP.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-024-03736-0Antimicrobial resistancePhage therapyKlebsiella pneumoniaeStephanstirmvirinaeMicrobiologyBacteriophages
spellingShingle Juan Li
Qingqing Fang
Huan Luo
Yan Feng
Yu Feng
Zhiyong Zong
“Sichuanvirus”, a novel bacteriophage viral genus, able to lyse carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
BMC Microbiology
Antimicrobial resistance
Phage therapy
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Stephanstirmvirinae
Microbiology
Bacteriophages
title “Sichuanvirus”, a novel bacteriophage viral genus, able to lyse carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
title_full “Sichuanvirus”, a novel bacteriophage viral genus, able to lyse carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
title_fullStr “Sichuanvirus”, a novel bacteriophage viral genus, able to lyse carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
title_full_unstemmed “Sichuanvirus”, a novel bacteriophage viral genus, able to lyse carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
title_short “Sichuanvirus”, a novel bacteriophage viral genus, able to lyse carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
title_sort sichuanvirus a novel bacteriophage viral genus able to lyse carbapenem resistant klebsiella pneumoniae
topic Antimicrobial resistance
Phage therapy
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Stephanstirmvirinae
Microbiology
Bacteriophages
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-024-03736-0
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