Novel Autographivirales phages Kiwi, Nika and Pie targeting Klebsiella pneumoniae K14: Isolation, characterisation, genome analysis and study of the bacterial polysaccharide degradation

Novel Autographivirales phages Kiwi, Nika and Pie targeting Klebsiella pneumoniae K14: Isolation, characterisation, genome analysis and study of the bacterial polysaccharide degradation Full article

Journal

Archives of Virology
ISSN: 0304-8608 , E-ISSN: 1432-8798

Output data

Year: 2026, Volume: 171, Number: 3, Article number : 64, Pages count : DOI: 10.1007/s00705-025-06489-x

Authors

Lukianova Anna A. ¹ , Shneider Mikhail M. ¹ , Tokmakova Anna D. ^2,1 , Landyshev Nikolay N. ^3,1,4 , Kasimova Anastasia A. ⁵ , Kolganova Anna S. ^6,5 , Mikhailova Yulia V. ⁷ , Shelenkov Andrey A. ⁷ , Dmitrenok Andrey S. ⁵ , Chizhov Andrey O. ⁵ , Knirel Yuriy A. ⁵ , Miroshnikov Konstantin A. ⁸

Affiliations

1	Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 117997, Moscow, Russia
2	Moscow Center for Advanced Studies, Kulakova Str. 20, 123592, Moscow, Russia
3	Department of General Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Technology, Institute of Medicine, Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 6, Moscow, 117198, Russia
4	Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Federal Research Center "Fundamentals of Biotechnology", Russian Academy of Science, Prosp. 60 let Oktyabria, 7, bld. 2, 117312, Moscow, N.N.L, Russia
5	Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Leninsky prosp. 47, 119991, Moscow, Russia
6	Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Miusskaya Sq, 9, 125047, Moscow, Russia
7	Central Research Institute for Epidemiology (Y.V.M., A.A.S.), Moscow, Russia
8	Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 117997, Moscow, Russia. kmi@ibch.ru

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a significant pathogen responsible for a range of infections, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and sepsis, in both human and veterinary medicine. The extracellular polysaccharide produced by this bacterium forms a capsule that protects the cell from immune responses and external influences, complicating treatment. The World Health Organization has placed this pathogen into the ESKAPE group (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) of pathogens that require special attention due to their resistance to multiple drugs, and hypermucoid K. pneumoniae strains with prevalent capsular types (e.g., K1 and K2) have been extensively studied. However, rare capsular types that are less well-characterised can still pose significant challenges. In the present study, we isolated a K. pneumoniae strain with capsular type K14, which is associated with antibiotic-resistant urogenital infections in felines, from a veterinary clinic. We successfully isolated and characterised three bacteriophages that exhibit rapid adsorption to and efficient lysis of the bacterium. All three phages demonstrated strictly lytic behavior and proved effective in degrading the extracellular polysaccharide capsule of the pathogen. We have modelled the receptor-binding proteins of these phages, which exhibit depolymerising activity. These proteins were produced in recombinant form, and experimental evidence has demonstrated their capacity to cleave the polysaccharide associated with the K14 capsular type. Furthermore, the chemical structure of the resulting cleavage products was determined. All three phages have been thoroughly characterised and show potential for application in combating multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae.

Lukianova A.A. , Shneider M.M. , Tokmakova A.D. , Landyshev N.N. , Kasimova A.A. , Kolganova A.S. , Mikhailova Y.V. , Shelenkov A.A. , Dmitrenok A.S. , Chizhov A.O. , Knirel Y.A. , Miroshnikov K.A.
Novel Autographivirales phages Kiwi, Nika and Pie targeting Klebsiella pneumoniae K14: Isolation, characterisation, genome analysis and study of the bacterial polysaccharide degradation
Archives of Virology. 2026. V.171. N3. 64 . DOI: 10.1007/s00705-025-06489-x WOS Scopus OpenAlex

Submitted:	Apr 2, 2025
Published online:	Jan 26, 2026

Web of science:	WOS:001671251300003
Scopus:	2-s2.0-105028720131
OpenAlex:	W7125684116

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