Genetic determinants of host tropism in Klebsiella phages

• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112048
• Publication Date: 2023-02-06T22:48:56Z
• Authors: Beatriz Beamud; Neris García-Gonz...; Mar Gómez-Ortega; Fernando González...; Pilar Domingo-Calap; Rafael Sanjuan
• Keywords: Lysogenic cycle; Phage therapy

Bacteriophages play key roles in bacterial ecology and evolution are potential antimicrobials. However, the determinants of phage-host specificity remain elusive. Here, we isolate 46 phages to challenge 138 representative clinical isolates Klebsiella pneumoniae, a widespread opportunistic pathogen. Spot tests show narrow host range for most phages, with <2% 6,319 combinations tested yielding detectable interactions. Bacterial capsule diversity is main factor restricting phage range. Consequently, phage-encoded depolymerases tropism, depolymerase sequence types associated ability infect specific capsular across families. all broader found do not encode canonical depolymerases, suggesting alternative modes entry. These findings expand our knowledge complex interactions between bacteria their viruses point out feasibility predicting first steps infection using genome sequences.