Combating biofilm-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae infections using a bovine microbial enzyme

Abstract The emergence of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae poses significant clinical challenges with limited treatment options. Biofilm is an important virulence factor of K. pneumoniae, serving as a protective barrier against antibiotics and the immune system. Here, we present the remarka...

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Main Authors: Reshma Ramakrishnan, Abhilash V. Nair, Kirti Parmar, Raju S. Rajmani, Dipshikha Chakravortty, Debasis Das
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:npj Biofilms and Microbiomes
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-024-00593-7
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author Reshma Ramakrishnan
Abhilash V. Nair
Kirti Parmar
Raju S. Rajmani
Dipshikha Chakravortty
Debasis Das
author_facet Reshma Ramakrishnan
Abhilash V. Nair
Kirti Parmar
Raju S. Rajmani
Dipshikha Chakravortty
Debasis Das
author_sort Reshma Ramakrishnan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The emergence of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae poses significant clinical challenges with limited treatment options. Biofilm is an important virulence factor of K. pneumoniae, serving as a protective barrier against antibiotics and the immune system. Here, we present the remarkable ability of a bovine microbial enzyme to prevent biofilm formation (IC50 2.50 μM) and degrade pre-formed K. pneumoniae biofilms (EC50 1.94 μM) by degrading the matrix polysaccharides. The treatment was effective against four different clinical K. pneumoniae isolates tested. Moreover, the enzyme significantly improved the biofilm sensitivity of a poorly performing broad-spectrum antibiotic, meropenem, and immune cells, resulting in facile biofilm clearance from the mouse wound infection. Notably, well-known powerful enzymes of the same class, cellulase, and α-amylase, were nearly inactive against the K. pneumoniae biofilms. The enzyme exhibited antibiofilm activity without showing toxicity to the mammalian and microbial cells, highlighting the potential of the enzyme for in vivo applications.
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spelling doaj-art-4d2b57c4ff874ac1970ab40feeca6c462025-08-20T02:50:00ZengNature Portfolionpj Biofilms and Microbiomes2055-50082024-11-0110111810.1038/s41522-024-00593-7Combating biofilm-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae infections using a bovine microbial enzymeReshma Ramakrishnan0Abhilash V. Nair1Kirti Parmar2Raju S. Rajmani3Dipshikha Chakravortty4Debasis Das5Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of ScienceDepartment of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of ScienceDepartment of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of ScienceMolecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of ScienceDepartment of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of ScienceDepartment of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of ScienceAbstract The emergence of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae poses significant clinical challenges with limited treatment options. Biofilm is an important virulence factor of K. pneumoniae, serving as a protective barrier against antibiotics and the immune system. Here, we present the remarkable ability of a bovine microbial enzyme to prevent biofilm formation (IC50 2.50 μM) and degrade pre-formed K. pneumoniae biofilms (EC50 1.94 μM) by degrading the matrix polysaccharides. The treatment was effective against four different clinical K. pneumoniae isolates tested. Moreover, the enzyme significantly improved the biofilm sensitivity of a poorly performing broad-spectrum antibiotic, meropenem, and immune cells, resulting in facile biofilm clearance from the mouse wound infection. Notably, well-known powerful enzymes of the same class, cellulase, and α-amylase, were nearly inactive against the K. pneumoniae biofilms. The enzyme exhibited antibiofilm activity without showing toxicity to the mammalian and microbial cells, highlighting the potential of the enzyme for in vivo applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-024-00593-7
spellingShingle Reshma Ramakrishnan
Abhilash V. Nair
Kirti Parmar
Raju S. Rajmani
Dipshikha Chakravortty
Debasis Das
Combating biofilm-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae infections using a bovine microbial enzyme
npj Biofilms and Microbiomes
title Combating biofilm-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae infections using a bovine microbial enzyme
title_full Combating biofilm-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae infections using a bovine microbial enzyme
title_fullStr Combating biofilm-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae infections using a bovine microbial enzyme
title_full_unstemmed Combating biofilm-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae infections using a bovine microbial enzyme
title_short Combating biofilm-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae infections using a bovine microbial enzyme
title_sort combating biofilm associated klebsiella pneumoniae infections using a bovine microbial enzyme
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-024-00593-7
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