AUTHOR=Feng Jiao , Li Fei , Sun Li , Dong Lina , Gao Liting , Wang Han , Yan Liyong , Wu Changxin 

TITLE=Characterization and genome analysis of phage vB_KpnS_SXFY507 against Klebsiella pneumoniae and efficacy assessment in Galleria mellonella larvae

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1081715

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1081715

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Carbapenem-resistant <italic>Klebsiella pneumoniae</italic> is one of the primary bacterial pathogens that pose a significant threat to global public health because of the lack of available therapeutic options. Phage therapy shows promise as a potential alternative to current antimicrobial chemotherapies. In this study, we isolated a new <italic>Siphoviridae</italic> phage vB_KpnS_SXFY507 against KPC-producing <italic>K. pneumoniae</italic> from hospital sewage. It had a short latent period of 20 min and a large burst size of 246 phages/cell. The host range of phage vB_KpnS_SXFY507 was relatively broad. It has a wide range of pH tolerance and high thermal stability. The genome of phage vB_KpnS_SXFY507 was 53,122 bp in length with a G + C content of 49.1%. A total of 81 open-reading frames (ORFs) and no virulence or antibiotic resistance related genes were involved in the phage vB_KpnS_SXFY507 genome. Phage vB_KpnS_SXFY507 showed significant antibacterial activity <italic>in vitro</italic>. The survival rate of <italic>Galleria mellonella</italic> larvae inoculated with <italic>K. pneumoniae</italic> SXFY507 was 20%. The survival rate of <italic>K. pneumonia</italic>-infected <italic>G. mellonella</italic> larvae was increased from 20 to 60% within 72 h upon treatment with phage vB_KpnS_SXFY507. In conclusion, these findings indicate that phage vB_KpnS_SXFY507 has the potential to be used as an antimicrobial agent for the control of <italic>K. pneumoniae</italic>.</p>