Assessing of antibiotic resistance in the phage-plasmids of Klebsiella pneumoniae and its inhibitory compound.

BACKGROUND

Antibiotic resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae poses an increasing risk to human health worldwide.

OBJECTIVES

Whole-genome sequence data were used to characterize K. pneumoniae phage-plasmids isolated in different countries.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Sequences of 15 genetically similar phage-plasmids were selected based on BLASTN analysis. Antibiotic resistance genes were screened using ResFinder, PhageAI, PlasmidFinder, PHASTEST, and PhageGE tools. Phage-plasmid sequences were then analyzed for a stable region in the genome using MAUVE analysis, and the protein of this stable region and its candidate inhibitor molecule were analyzed through molecular docking studies.

RESULTS

Several resistance genes were detected in 7 of the 15 phage-plasmids screened. All plasmids had the Salmonella SSU5 prophage. MAUVE analysis indicated a common stable region encoding replication protein A. Molecular docking studies demonstrated that an interaction occurs between replication protein A and a fabimycin derivative.

CONCLUSION

Fabimycin could be used to control both phage plasmids and their host, which could affect the severity and incidence of K. pneumoniae infections.