scholarly journals A Frameshift Mutation in wcaJ Associated with Phage Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Demeng Tan ◽  
Yiyuan Zhang ◽  
Jinhong Qin ◽  
Shuai Le ◽  
Jingmin Gu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Phage Resistance ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Lytic Phage ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Coding Region

Phage therapy is a potential and promising avenue for controlling the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae, however, the rapid development of anti-phage resistance has been identified as an obstacle to the development of phage therapy. Little is known about the mechanism employed by MDR K. pneumoniae strains and how they protect themselves from lytic phage predation in vitro and in vivo. In this study, comparative genomic analysis shows undecaprenyl-phosphate glucose-1-phosphate transferase (WcaJ), the initial enzyme catalyzing the biosynthesis of colanic acid, is necessary for the adsorption of phage 117 (Podoviridae) to the host strain Kp36 to complete its lytic life cycle. In-frame deletion of wcaJ alone was sufficient to provide phage 117 resistance in the Kp36 wild-type strain. Complementation assays demonstrated the susceptibility of phage 117, and the mucoid phenotype could be restored in the resistant strain Kp36-117R by expressing the wild-type version of wcaJ. Remarkably, we found that bacterial mobile genetic elements (insA and insB) block phage 117 infections by disrupting the coding region of wcaJ, thus preventing phage adsorption to its phage receptor. Further, we revealed that the wcaJ mutation likely occurred spontaneously rather than adapted by phage 117 predation under unfavorable environments. Taken together, our results address a crucial evolutionary question around the mechanisms of phage–host interactions, increasing our current understandings of anti-phage defense mechanisms in this important MDR pathogen.

scholarly journals 1952. Bacteriophage Treatment Improves Survival of Mice Infected with Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S60-S60
Author(s):  
Shayla Hesse ◽  
Natalia Malachowa ◽  
Adeline Porter ◽  
Brett Freedman ◽  
Scott Kobayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Lytic Phage ◽  
Mouse Blood ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
In Vitro Data

Abstract Background Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is being considered as a treatment option for patients with multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections. However, there is a dearth of controlled clinical data to support therapeutic phage efficacy. As a first step toward addressing this deficiency, we tested the ability of two well-characterized phages, alone and in combination, to kill carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (ST258) in blood in vitro and rescue mice from lethal ST258 infection. Methods Wild-type C57BL/6J mice were infected with a lethal inoculum of ST258 by intra-peritoneal (IP) injection followed 1 hour later by IP administration of lytic phage P1, P2, or P1+P2 at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) estimated at 1. Survival of each group of mice was tracked for 10 days. In separate experiments, mice were sacrificed at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours post-phage treatment. Mouse blood and tissues were collected at each timepoint for enumeration of bacteria and phage, screening for phage resistance, and histopathology. Results ST258 survival in mouse blood in vitro was significantly less after 1 hour of incubation with P1 or P1+P2 (MOI 1) compared with the control group (no phage). Consistent with the in vitro data, none of the mice (0/15) in the control group (no phage) survived to 10 days post-infection, whereas 12/15, 14/15, and 15/15 mice survived in the P2, P1, and P1+P2-treated groups, respectively (P < 0.0001). Conclusion Prompt, systemic administration of lytic bacteriophages rescued mice from lethal ST258 infection. These data support the potential of phage therapy to effectively treat infections caused by ST258. It will be important to assess whether, for other phage-bacteria combinations, in vitro lysis in blood correlates with in vivo treatment efficacy and therefore may have predictive utility. Disclosures All Authors: No reported Disclosures.

scholarly journals Phage Selective Pressure Reduces Virulence of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae Through Mutation of the wzc Gene

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingjie Song ◽  
Xianggui Yang ◽  
Jinwei Huang ◽  
Xiaokui Zhu ◽  
Guohui Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Bacteriophage Therapy ◽  
Deletion Mutations ◽  
Invasive Infections

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp), one of the major community-acquired pathogens, can cause invasive infections such as liver abscess. In recent years, bacteriophages have been used in the treatment of K. pneumoniae, but the characteristics of the phage-resistant bacteria produced in the process of phage therapy need to be evaluated. In this study, two Podoviridae phages, hvKpP1 and hvKpP2, were isolated and characterized. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the virulence of the resistant bacteria was significantly reduced compared with that of the wild type. Comparative genomic analysis of monoclonal sequencing showed that nucleotide deletion mutations of wzc and wcaJ genes led to phage resistance, and the electron microscopy and mucoviscosity results showed that mutations led to the loss of the capsule. Meanwhile, animal assay indicated that loss of capsule reduced the virulence of hvKp. These findings contribute to a better understanding of bacteriophage therapy, which not only can kill bacteria directly but also can reduce the virulence of bacteria by phage screening.

scholarly journals Mutations Associated with Failure of Raltegravir Treatment Affect Integrase Sensitivity to the Inhibitor In Vitro

2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 1351-1358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Malet ◽  
Olivier Delelis ◽  
Marc-Antoine Valantin ◽  
Brigitte Montes ◽  
Cathia Soulie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Strand Transfer ◽  
Hiv Integrase ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Integrase Gene ◽  
Heavily Pretreated ◽  
Pretreated Patients ◽  
Genetic Profiles

ABSTRACT Raltegravir (MK-0518) is a potent inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) integrase and is clinically effective against viruses resistant to other classes of antiretroviral agents. However, it can select mutations in the HIV integrase gene. Nine heavily pretreated patients who received salvage therapy including raltegravir and who subsequently developed virological failure under raltegravir therapy were studied. For each patient, the sequences of the integrase-coding region were determined and compared to that at the beginning of the treatment. Four different mutation profiles were identified in these nine patients: E92Q, G140S Q148H, N155H, and E157Q mutations. For four patients, each harboring a different profile, the wild-type and mutated integrases were produced, purified, and assayed in vitro. All the mutations identified altered the activities of integrase protein: both 3′ processing and strand transfer activities were moderately affected in the E92Q mutant; strand transfer was markedly impaired in the N155H mutant; both activities were strongly impaired in the G140S Q148H mutant; and the E157Q mutant was almost completely inactive. The sensitivities of wild-type and mutant integrases to raltegravir were compared. The E92Q and G140S Q148H profiles were each associated with a 7- to 8-fold decrease in sensitivity, and the N155H mutant was more than 14-fold less sensitive to raltegravir. At least four genetic profiles (E92Q, G140S Q148H, N155H, and E157Q) can be associated with in vivo treatment failure and resistance to raltegravir. These mutations led to strong impairment of enzymes in vitro in the absence of raltegravir: strand transfer activity was affected, and in some cases 3′ processing was also impaired.

scholarly journals Phage Resistance in Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 Evolves via Diverse Mutations That Culminate in Impaired Adsorption

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayla Hesse ◽  
Manoj Rajaure ◽  
Erin Wall ◽  
Joy Johnson ◽  
Valery Bliskovsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Surface Structures ◽  
Phage Resistance ◽  
Cell Surface Structures ◽  
Phage Cocktail ◽  
Resistant Mutants

ABSTRACT The evolution of phage resistance poses an inevitable threat to the efficacy of phage therapy. The strategic selection of phage combinations that impose high genetic barriers to resistance and/or high compensatory fitness costs may mitigate this threat. However, for such a strategy to be effective, the evolution of phage resistance must be sufficiently constrained to be consistent. In this study, we isolated lytic phages capable of infecting a modified Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolate and characterized a total of 57 phage-resistant mutants that evolved from their prolonged coculture in vitro. Single- and double-phage-resistant mutants were isolated from independently evolved replicate cocultures grown in broth or on plates. Among resistant isolates evolved against the same phage under the same conditions, mutations conferring resistance occurred in different genes, yet in each case, the putative functions of these genes clustered around the synthesis or assembly of specific cell surface structures. All resistant mutants demonstrated impaired phage adsorption, providing a strong indication that these cell surface structures functioned as phage receptors. Combinations of phages targeting different host receptors reduced the incidence of resistance, while, conversely, one three-phage cocktail containing two phages targeting the same receptor increased the incidence of resistance (relative to its two-phage, nonredundant receptor-targeting counterpart). Together, these data suggest that laboratory characterization of phage-resistant mutants is a useful tool to help optimize therapeutic phage selection and cocktail design. IMPORTANCE The therapeutic use of bacteriophage (phage) is garnering renewed interest in the setting of difficult-to-treat infections. Phage resistance is one major limitation of phage therapy; therefore, developing effective strategies to avert or lessen its impact is critical. Characterization of in vitro phage resistance may be an important first step in evaluating the relative likelihood with which phage-resistant populations emerge, the most likely phenotypes of resistant mutants, and the effect of certain phage cocktail combinations in increasing or decreasing the genetic barrier to resistance. If this information confers predictive power in vivo, then routine studies of phage-resistant mutants and their in vitro evolution should be a valuable means for improving the safety and efficacy of phage therapy in humans.

scholarly journals Safety and Efficacy of a Phage, kpssk3, in an in vivo Model of Carbapenem-Resistant Hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae Bacteremia

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunlong Shi ◽  
Yuan Peng ◽  
Yixin Zhang ◽  
Yu Chen ◽  
Cheng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most significant threats to global public health. As antibiotic failure is increasing, phages are gradually becoming important agents in the post-antibiotic era. In this study, the therapeutic effects and safety of kpssk3, a previously isolated phage infecting carbapenem-resistant hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-HMKP), were evaluated in a mouse model of systemic CR-HMKP infection. The therapeutic efficacy experiment showed that intraperitoneal injection with a single dose of phage kpssk3 (1 × 107 PFU/mouse) 3 h post infection protected 100% of BALB/c mice against bacteremia induced by intraperitoneal challenge with a 2 × LD100 dose of NY03, a CR-HMKP clinical isolate. In addition, mice were treated with antibiotics from three classes (polymyxin B, tigecycline, and ceftazidime/avibactam plus aztreonam), and the 7 days survival rates of the treated mice were 20, 20, and 90%, respectively. The safety test consisted of 2 parts: determining the cytotoxicity of kpssk3 and evaluating the short- and long-term impacts of phage therapy on the mouse gut microbiota. Phage kpssk3 was shown to not be cytotoxic to mammalian cells in vitro or in vivo. Fecal samples were collected from the phage-treated mice at 3 time points before (0 day) and after (3 and 10 days) phage therapy to study the change in the gut microbiome via high-throughput 16S rDNA sequence analysis, which revealed no notable alterations in the gut microbiota except for decreases in the Chao1 and ACE indexes.

scholarly journals «Enhanced antibacterial activity of repurposed mitomycin C and imipenem in combination with the lytic phage vB_KpnM-VAC13 against clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae »

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Pacios ◽  
Laura Fernández-García ◽  
Ines Bleriot ◽  
Lucia Blasco ◽  
Mónica González-Bardanca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Mitomycin C ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Resistant Isolate ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Lytic Phage ◽  
Broth Microdilution Method

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen that employs different strategies (resistance and persistence) to counteract antibiotic treatments. This study aimed to search for new means of combatting imipenem-resistant and persister strains of K. pneumoniae by repurposing the anticancer drug mitomycin C as an antimicrobial agent and by combining the drug and the conventional antibiotic imipenem with the lytic phage vB_KpnM-VAC13. Several clinical K. pneumoniae isolates were characterized, and an imipenem-resistant isolate (harbouring OXA245 ß-lactamase) and a persister isolate were selected for study. The mitomycin C and imipenem MICs for both isolates were determined by the broth microdilution method. Time-kill curve data were obtained by OD 600 measurement and CFU enumeration in the presence of each drug alone and with the phage. The frequency of occurrence of mutants resistant to each drug and the combinations was also calculated, and the efficacy of the combination treatments was evaluated using an in vivo infection model ( Galleria mellonella ). The lytic phage vB_KpnM-VAC13 and mitomycin C had synergistic effects on imipenem-resistant and persister isolates, both in vitro and in vivo. The phage-imipenem combination successfully killed the persisters but not the imipenem-resistant isolate harbouring OXA245 ß-lactamase. Interestingly, the combinations decreased the emergence of in vitro resistant mutants of both isolates. Combinations of the lytic phage vB_KpnM-VAC13 with mitomycin C and imipenem were effective against the persister K. pneumoniae isolate. The lytic phage/mitomycin C combination was also effective against imipenem-resistant K. pneumoniae strains harbouring OXA245 ß-lactamase.

scholarly journals Parallel evolution of phage resistance - virulence trade - offs during in vitro and nasal Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage treatment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meaghan Castledine ◽  
Daniel Padfield ◽  
Pawel Sierocinski ◽  
Jesica Soria Pascual ◽  
Adam Hughes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Phage Resistance ◽  
Lower Growth ◽  
Trade Offs

With rising antibiotic resistance, there has been increasing interest in the treatment of pathogenic bacteria with bacteriophages (phage therapy). One limitation of phage therapy is the ease at which bacteria can evolve resistance. The negative effects of resistance may be partially mitigated when resistance results in reduced bacterial growth and virulence, or when phage coevolve to overcome resistance. Resistance evolution and its consequences are highly contingent on the particular combination of bacteria and phage and the ecological context they interact in, making therapeutic outcomes hard to predict. One solution might be to conduct ″in vitro evolutionary simulations″ using the bacteria-phage combinations specific to the therapeutic context. Here, we investigate parallels between in vitro experiments and in vivo dynamics in a human participant. Evolutionary dynamics were similar in vivo and in vitro, with high levels of de novo resistance evolving quickly with limited evidence of phage evolution. Moreover, resistant bacteria – evolved both in vitro and in vivo – had lower virulence when measured in an insect model. In vivo, this was linked to lower growth rates of resistant isolates, whereas in vitro isolates evolved greater biofilm production with phage resistance. Population sequencing suggests resistance was typically the result of selection on de novo mutations rather than sorting of existing variants in the population. These results highlight the speed at which resistance to phages can evolve in vivo, and that in vitro evolution may give useful insights for evolutionary outcomes in vivo.

scholarly journals The M10 Locus of Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 Contributes to both the Lytic and the Latent Phases of Infection

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (16) ◽  
pp. 8163-8172 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Flach ◽  
B. Steer ◽  
N. N. Thakur ◽  
J. Haas ◽  
H. Adler
Keyword(s):  
Lytic Replication ◽  
Mutant Virus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Murine Gammaherpesvirus ◽  
Gammaherpesvirus 68 ◽  
Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 ◽  
Revertant Virus

ABSTRACT Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) is closely related to Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and provides a small-animal model to study the pathogenesis of gammaherpesvirus (γHV) infections. According to the colinear organization of the γHV genomes, the M10 locus is situated at a position equivalent to the K12 locus of KSHV, which codes for proteins of the kaposin family. The M10 locus of MHV-68 has been predicted to code for three overlapping open reading frames (M10a, M10b, and M10c [M10a-c]) with unknown function. In addition, the M10 locus contains a lytic origin of replication (oriLyt). To elucidate the function of the M10 locus during lytic and latent infections, we investigated, both in vitro and in vivo, the following four recombinant viruses which were generated using MHV-68 cloned as a bacterial artificial chromosome: (i) a mutant virus with a deletion which affects both the coding region for M10a-c and the oriLyt; (ii) a revertant virus in which both the M10a-c coding region and the oriLyt were reverted to those of the wild type; (iii) a virus with an ectopic insertion of the oriLyt, which restores the function of the oriLyt but not the M10a-c coding region; and (iv) a mutant virus with a deletion in the oriLyt only. While the mutants were slightly attenuated with regard to lytic replication in cell culture, they showed severe growth defects in vivo. Both lytic replication and latency amplification were strongly reduced. In contrast, both the revertant virus and the virus with the ectopic oriLyt insertion grew very similarly to the parental wild-type virus both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, we provide genetic evidence that mutation of the oriLyt, and not of putative protein coding sequences within the M10a-c region, is responsible for the observed phenotype. We conclude that the oriLyt in the M10 locus plays an important role during infection of mice with MHV-68.

scholarly journals Topically Applied Bacteriophage to Control Multi-Drug Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Infected Wound in a Rat Model

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1048
Author(s):  
Mohamed S. Fayez ◽  
Toka A. Hakim ◽  
Mona M. Agwa ◽  
Mohamed Abdelmoteleb ◽  
Rania G. Aly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Lytic Phage ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Infected Wound ◽  
Specific Phage

(Background): Multi-drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-KP) has steadily grown beyond antibiotic control. Wound infection kills many patients each year, due to the entry of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens into the skin gaps. However, a bacteriophage (phage) is considered to be a potential antibiotic alternative for treating bacterial infections. This research aims at isolating and characterizing a specific phage and evaluate its topical activity against MDR-KP isolated from infected wounds. (Methods): A lytic phage ZCKP8 was isolated by using a clinical isolate KP/15 as a host strain then characterized. Additionally, phage was assessed for its in vitro host range, temperature, ultraviolet (UV), and pH sensitivity. The therapeutic efficiency of phage suspension and a phage-impeded gel vehicle were assessed in vivo against a K. pneumoniae infected wound on a rat model. (Result): The phage produced a clear plaque and was classified as Siphoviridae. The phage inhibited KP/15 growth in vitro in a dose-dependent pattern and it was found to resist high temperature (˂70 °C) and was primarily active at pH 5; moreover, it showed UV stability for 45 min. Phage-treated K. pneumoniae inoculated wounds showed the highest healing efficiency by lowering the infection. The quality of the regenerated skin was evidenced via histological examination compared to the untreated control group. (Conclusions): This research represents the evidence of effective phage therapy against MDR-KP.

scholarly journals Phage resistance accompanies reduced fitness of uropathogenic E. coli in the urinary environment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob J. Zulk ◽  
Justin R. Clark ◽  
Samantha Ottinger ◽  
Mallory B. Ballard ◽  
Marlyd E. Mejia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Human Urine ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Phage Resistance ◽  
Fitness Costs ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Tract Infections

ABSTRACTUrinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections treated worldwide each year and are primarily caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). Rising rates of antibiotic resistance among uropathogens have spurred consideration of alternative strategies such as bacteriophage (phage) therapy; however, phage-bacterial interactions within the urinary environment are poorly defined. Here, we assess the activity of two phages, HP3 and ES17, against clinical UPEC isolates using in vitro and in vivo models of UTI. In both bacteriologic medium and pooled human urine, we identified phage resistance arising within the first 6-8 hours of coincubation. Whole genome sequencing revealed that UPEC resistant to HP3 and ES17 harbored mutations in genes involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. These mutations coincided with several in vitro phenotypes, including alterations to adherence to and invasion of human bladder epithelial HTB-9 cells, and increased biofilm formation. Interestingly, these phage-resistant UPEC demonstrated reduced growth in pooled human urine, which could be partially rescued by nutrient supplementation, and were more sensitive to several outer membrane targeting antibiotics than parental strains. Additionally, these phage-resistant UPEC were attenuated in a murine UTI model. In total, our findings suggest that while resistance to phages, such as LPS-targeted HP3 and ES17, may readily arise in the urinary environment, phage resistance is accompanied by fitness costs rendering UPEC more susceptible to host immunity or antibiotics.IMPORTANCEUTIs are one of the most common causes of outpatient antibiotic use, and rising antibiotic resistance threatens the ability to control these infections unless alternative treatments are developed. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is gaining renewed interest, however, much like antibiotics, bacteria can readily become resistant to phage. For successful UTI treatment, we must predict how bacteria will evade killing by phage and identify the downstream consequences of phage-resistant bacterial infections. In our current study, we found that while phage-resistant mutant bacteria quickly emerged, these mutations left bacteria less capable of growing in human urine and colonizing the murine bladder. These results suggest that phage therapy poses a viable UTI treatment if phage resistance confers fitness costs for the uropathogen. These results have implications for developing cocktails of phage with multiple different bacterial targets, each of which is only evaded at the cost of bacterial fitness.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document