Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Bacteriophage Infecting Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

Curr Microbiol. 2020 May;77(5):722-729. doi: 10.1007/s00284-019-01849-8. Epub 2020 Jan 7.

Abstract

A novel virulent phage, vB_KpnP_IME337, isolated from a hospital sewage in Beijing, China, that infects carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae KN2 capsular type was identified and characterized. Next-generation sequencing and genome analysis revealed that vB_KpnP_IME337 had a linear double-stranded genome with a length of 44,266 base pairs and G+C content of 53.7%. Fifty-two putative open reading frames were identified, and no transfer RNA-encoding genes were detected. BLASTn analysis revealed that phage vB_KpnP_IME337 had the highest sequence similarity with Klebsiella phage phiBO1E, with genome coverage of 79%. Based on morphology, phage vB_KpnP_IME337 was determined to belong to the family Podoviridae of the order Caudovirales. It was shown that phage vB_KpnP_IME337 had an infection duration of ~ 90 min and 10 min latent period, and a highly specific to host strain. In conclusion, phage vB_KpnP_IME337 may be a promising alternative candidate to antibiotic treatment for controlling diseases caused by drug-resistant K. pneumoniae.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Base Composition
  • Carbapenems / pharmacology
  • China
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Genome, Viral*
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / drug effects
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / virology*
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Phylogeny
  • Podoviridae / genetics*
  • Podoviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sewage / virology
  • Virulence
  • beta-Lactam Resistance

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Carbapenems
  • DNA, Viral
  • Sewage