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Characterization of phage resistance and phages capable of intestinal decolonization of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice.

ABSTRACT: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) has emerged as a severe global health challenge. We isolate and characterize two previously unidentified lytic phages, P24 and P39, with large burst sizes active against ST11 KL64, a major CRKP lineage. P24 and P39 represent species of the genera Przondovirus (Studiervirinae subfamily) and Webervirus (Drexlerviridae family), respectively. P24 and P39 together restrain CRKP growth to nearly 8 h. Phage-resistant mutants exhibit reduced capsule production and decreased virulence. Modifications in mshA and wcaJ encoding capsule polysaccharide synthesis mediate P24 resistance whilst mutations in epsJ encoding exopolysaccharide synthesis cause P39 resistance. We test P24 alone and together with P39 for decolonizing CRKP using mouse intestinal colonization models. Bacterial load shed decrease significantly in mice treated with P24 and P39. In conclusion, we report the characterization of two previously unidentified lytic phages against CRKP, revealing phage resistance mechanisms and demonstrating the potential of lytic phages for intestinal decolonization.

SUBMITTER: Fang Q

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8758719 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Carbapenem-resistantKlebsiella pneumoniae(CR-Kp) is significant threat to public health worldwide. The primary reservoir for CR-Kp is the intestinal tract, where the bacterium is usually present at low density, but can bloom following antibiotic treatment, mostly in hospital settings. The impact of disturbances in the intestinal environment on the fitness, survival, expansion, and drug susceptibility of this pathogen is not well-understood. Nevertheless, gaining such knowledge could lead to innovative intervention strategies for addressing colonization and infection. Here, we adopted anin vivomodel to examine the transcriptional adaptation of a CR-Kp clinical isolate to immune activation in the intestine. We report that as early as 6 hours following host treatment with anti-CD3 antibody, CR-Kp underwent rapid transcriptional changes including downregulation of genes involved in sugar utilization and amino acid biosynthesis, and upregulation of genes involved in amino acid uptake and catabolism, antibiotic resistance, and stress response. In agreement with these findings, the concentration of oxidative species and amino acids was increased in the mouse intestine following treatment. Genes encoding for proteins containing the domain of unknown function (DUF) 1471 were particularly upregulated, however their deletion did not impair CR-Kp fitness in vivoupon immune activation. Transcription factor enrichment analysis identified the global regulator cAMP-Receptor Protein CRP as a potential orchestrator of the observed transcriptional signature. In keeping with the recognized role of CRP in regulating utilization of alternative carbon sources, CRP deletion in CR-Kp resulted in strongly impaired gut colonization, but this effect was not amplified by immune activation. Thus, following intestinal colonization, which occurs in a CRP-dependent manner, CR-Kp can rapidly respond to immune cues by implementing a well-defined and complex transcriptional program whose direct relevance towards bacterial fitness remains cryptic. Further analyses utilizing this model may identify key factors to tackle the intestinal stage of CR-Kp colonization.

Project description:Background:The increase in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), especially the emergence of tigecycline-resistant K. pneumoniae (KP), is a serious public health concern. However, the underlying mechanism of tigecycline resistance is unclear. In this study, we evaluated the role of the CusS-CusR two-component system (TCS), which is associated with copper/silver resistance, in tigecycline resistance in CRKP. Methods:Following the in vitro evolution of tigecycline-resistant KP, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of tigecycline were determined using the micro-broth dilution method. RNA sequencing and data analysis were performed to identify differentially expressed genes. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to verify the genes of interest. Genes associated with tigecycline resistance, such as ramR, tex (T), and tet (A), were detected by PCR, and then mutants were confirmed by sequencing. Additionally, the efflux pump-associated genes soxS, oqxA, oqxB, acrE, and acrF were also analyzed by qPCR. CusR was deleted and complemented by the suicide vector pKO3-Km plasmid and pGEM-T-easy plasmid, respectively. Results:Nine strains of KP were evaluated in our study. Strains A2 and A3 were evolved from A1, B2, and B3 were evolved from B1, and C2 and C3 were evolved from C1. The tigecycline minimum inhibitory concentration for A1, B1, and C1 was 0.5 ?g/mL; that for A2, B2, and C3 was 16.0 ?g/mL; and that for A3, B3, and C3 was 32.0 ?g/mL. RNA-sequencing and qPCR confirmed that the differentially expressed genes cusE, cusS, cusR, cusC, cusF, cusB, and cusA showed higher expression in C2 and C3 than in C1. Genes related to the efflux pump AcrAB-TolC showed higher expression in B2 and B3 than in B1. No mutants of ramR, tex (T), or tet (A) were detected. SoxS, oqxA, oqxB, acrE, and acrF did not show increased expression in any group. After deletion and complementation of cusR among C3, the MIC of tigecycline decreased to 4 ?g/mL, and then recovered to 32 ?g/mL. The expression of cusFBCA, correspondingly decreased and increased significantly. Conclusion:In addition to its primary function in resistance to copper/silver, the CusS-CusR two-component system is associated with CRKP resistance to tigecycline.

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Characterization of phage resistance and phages capable of intestinal decolonization of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice.

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