Characterization and genome analysis of novel Klebsiella phage BUCT556A with lytic activity against carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) have spread globally and led to the limited choice of antimicrobial treatment of K. pneumoniae-induced infections. Bacteriophages are considered as an effective strategy against bacterial infections. In this study, we isolated a novel Klebsiella phage BUCT556A with lytic activity against KPC-producing K. pneumoniae, which was a multi-drug resistant isolate. Phage BUCT556A had a symmetrical head and a long, non-contractile tail, belonging to the family Siphoviridae, order Caudoviridae. Phage BUCT556A had a relatively narrow host range, and a medium burst size of 91 PFU/cell. It was stable at broad temperature/pH range, and exhibited good tolerance to chloroform. The genome of phage BUCT556A was a 49, 376-bp linear double-stranded DNA molecule with average G + C content of 50.2%, and contained 75 open reading frames. There was no tRNA, antibiotic resistance, toxin, virulence related genes or lysogen-formation gene clusters detected in the genome of phage BUCT556A. Phylogenetic analyses based on the major capsid protein Mcp suggested that this phage had a close relationship with Klebsiella phage KLPN1. Together, through phenotypic combined with genomic DNA sequencing and analyses, our study suggests that phage BUCT556A has the potential to be used as a bacterial treatment tool for multidrug-resistant strains K. pneumoniae.

Automated summary

A novel Klebsiella phage BUCT556A with lytic activity against KPC-producing K. pneumoniae was isolated in this study, suggesting its potential as a bacterial treatment tool for multidrug-resistant strains. This phage had a close relationship with Klebsiella phage KLPN1 based on phylogenetic analyses.