Bacteriophage therapy: a possible alternative therapy against antibiotic-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a notorious, Gram-negative pathogen and is a leading cause of healthcare settings and community-acquired infections. This is the commensal of human microbiota and can invade and cause infections in different body parts. The global emergence of antibiotic resistance in K. pne...

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Main Authors: Sadia Abbas, Rabia Kanwar, Kaleem Ullah, Rimsha Kanwal, Mamoon Tajamal, Muhammad Aamir Aslam, Abid Ahmad, Abdul Qadeer, Hsun-Yu Huang, Chien-Chin Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1443430/full
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author Sadia Abbas
Rabia Kanwar
Kaleem Ullah
Rimsha Kanwal
Mamoon Tajamal
Muhammad Aamir Aslam
Abid Ahmad
Abdul Qadeer
Hsun-Yu Huang
Chien-Chin Chen
Chien-Chin Chen
Chien-Chin Chen
Chien-Chin Chen
Chien-Chin Chen
author_facet Sadia Abbas
Rabia Kanwar
Kaleem Ullah
Rimsha Kanwal
Mamoon Tajamal
Muhammad Aamir Aslam
Abid Ahmad
Abdul Qadeer
Hsun-Yu Huang
Chien-Chin Chen
Chien-Chin Chen
Chien-Chin Chen
Chien-Chin Chen
Chien-Chin Chen
author_sort Sadia Abbas
collection DOAJ
description Klebsiella pneumoniae is a notorious, Gram-negative pathogen and is a leading cause of healthcare settings and community-acquired infections. This is the commensal of human microbiota and can invade and cause infections in different body parts. The global emergence of antibiotic resistance in K. pneumoniae has become a major challenge in the whole medical community. Alternative paths to treat the infections caused by these MDR pathogens are needed as these bacteria become resistant to last-resort antibiotics like colistin. The lytic bacteriophages (phages) are the bacteria's natural predators and can rapidly eliminate the bacterial cells. Phages are abundant in nature and have recently been found to be effective tools in modern biotechnology. They can be used to control the bacterial infectious diseases. They can be manipulated easily and potentially used in therapeutics, biotechnology, and research. Several studies, both in vitro and in vivo, have demonstrated the possible applications of the lytic phages in treating K. pneumoniae superbug strains. Phage endolysins have drawn the scientific world's attention because of their involvement in phage adsorption and bacterial capsules digestion. These phage-encoded enzymes digest the polysaccharide components of bacterial cell walls by recognizing and binding them. Phage lysins, being strong biological agents, are capable of effectively and swiftly eliminating bacteria. This review summarizes the information on phages of K. pneumoniae and phage-based therapies to target their bacterial hosts.
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issn 1664-302X
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series Frontiers in Microbiology
spelling doaj-art-de06d6a2f7b040afa9440dacea64ee162025-08-20T03:41:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-03-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.14434301443430Bacteriophage therapy: a possible alternative therapy against antibiotic-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniaeSadia Abbas0Rabia Kanwar1Kaleem Ullah2Rimsha Kanwal3Mamoon Tajamal4Muhammad Aamir Aslam5Abid Ahmad6Abdul Qadeer7Hsun-Yu Huang8Chien-Chin Chen9Chien-Chin Chen10Chien-Chin Chen11Chien-Chin Chen12Chien-Chin Chen13Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, PakistanInstitute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, PakistanDirectorate General (Research) Livestock & Dairy Development Department Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanInstitute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, PakistanInstitute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, PakistanInstitute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, PakistanDepartment of Animal Nutrition, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanDepartment of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaDivision of Endodontics, Department of Stomatology, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, TaiwanDepartment of Pathology, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, TaiwanDepartment of Cosmetic Science, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, TaiwanDoctoral Program in Translational Medicine, Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, TaiwanDepartment of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan0Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, TaiwanKlebsiella pneumoniae is a notorious, Gram-negative pathogen and is a leading cause of healthcare settings and community-acquired infections. This is the commensal of human microbiota and can invade and cause infections in different body parts. The global emergence of antibiotic resistance in K. pneumoniae has become a major challenge in the whole medical community. Alternative paths to treat the infections caused by these MDR pathogens are needed as these bacteria become resistant to last-resort antibiotics like colistin. The lytic bacteriophages (phages) are the bacteria's natural predators and can rapidly eliminate the bacterial cells. Phages are abundant in nature and have recently been found to be effective tools in modern biotechnology. They can be used to control the bacterial infectious diseases. They can be manipulated easily and potentially used in therapeutics, biotechnology, and research. Several studies, both in vitro and in vivo, have demonstrated the possible applications of the lytic phages in treating K. pneumoniae superbug strains. Phage endolysins have drawn the scientific world's attention because of their involvement in phage adsorption and bacterial capsules digestion. These phage-encoded enzymes digest the polysaccharide components of bacterial cell walls by recognizing and binding them. Phage lysins, being strong biological agents, are capable of effectively and swiftly eliminating bacteria. This review summarizes the information on phages of K. pneumoniae and phage-based therapies to target their bacterial hosts.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1443430/fullK. pneumoniaeantibiotic resistancebacteriophagesphage therapyendolysins
spellingShingle Sadia Abbas
Rabia Kanwar
Kaleem Ullah
Rimsha Kanwal
Mamoon Tajamal
Muhammad Aamir Aslam
Abid Ahmad
Abdul Qadeer
Hsun-Yu Huang
Chien-Chin Chen
Chien-Chin Chen
Chien-Chin Chen
Chien-Chin Chen
Chien-Chin Chen
Bacteriophage therapy: a possible alternative therapy against antibiotic-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae
Frontiers in Microbiology
K. pneumoniae
antibiotic resistance
bacteriophages
phage therapy
endolysins
title Bacteriophage therapy: a possible alternative therapy against antibiotic-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae
title_full Bacteriophage therapy: a possible alternative therapy against antibiotic-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae
title_fullStr Bacteriophage therapy: a possible alternative therapy against antibiotic-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae
title_full_unstemmed Bacteriophage therapy: a possible alternative therapy against antibiotic-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae
title_short Bacteriophage therapy: a possible alternative therapy against antibiotic-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae
title_sort bacteriophage therapy a possible alternative therapy against antibiotic resistant strains of klebsiella pneumoniae
topic K. pneumoniae
antibiotic resistance
bacteriophages
phage therapy
endolysins
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1443430/full
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