Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40011819›Full record

ArticleBMC microbiology2025

Characterization and genome analysis of novel Klebsiella pneumoniae phage vbKpUKJ_2 isolated from hospital sewage water.

Kamran Ahmad Mirza, Tinatini Tchatchiashvili, Mike Marquet, Sandor Nietzsche, Mathias W Pletz, Oliwia Makarewicz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Phage and endolysin-based inhibition ofFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026
    Review
  5. Article
  6. A lytic bacteriophage vB_KpnP-6K2 inhibits ST11-KL64Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Isolation, characterization and therapeutic evaluation of phage HHU1 against K2Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Kamran Ahmad MirzaInstitute of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany. Kamran.mirza@med.uni-jena.de.
Tinatini TchatchiashviliInstitute of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany.
Mike MarquetInstitute of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany.
Sandor NietzscheCenter for Electron Microscopy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany.
Mathias W PletzInstitute of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany.
Oliwia MakarewiczInstitute of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany.

Funding

Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung 13N15467Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung 13N15720
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMultidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae is a critical healthcare challenge due to its extensive resistance to antibiotics and role in causing severe infections. Bacteriophages offer a promising alternative for targeting MDR pathogens. This study characterizes a novel phage, vbKpUKJ_2, isolated from hospital sewage water, against clinical K. pneumoniae isolates.

methodsPhage vbKpUKJ_2 was isolated and purified using the double agar overlay method. Host range and sensitivity were tested against 40 clinical K. pneumoniae isolates using growth inhibition assays. Morphological characterization was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Genomic analysis was conducted to evaluate the absence of antibiotic resistance genes and determine phylogenetic relationships. Stability assays assessed the phage's thermal and pH tolerance.

resultsPhage vbKpUKJ_2 demonstrated broad range activity against clinical K. pneumoniae isolates. TEM revealed it belongs to the Drexlerviridae family. Genomic analysis confirmed the absence of antibiotic resistance genes and identified conserved functional regions shared with related phages. vbKpUKJ_2 exhibited broad pH stability (pH 4-10) and thermal stability between 30 °C and 60 °C. The one-step growth curve indicated rapid lytic activity, with a burst size of 323 phage particles per cell.

conclusionvbKpUKJ_2 shows promising therapeutic potential against MDR K. pneumoniae. Its stability, absence of resistance genes, and rapid lytic cycle highlight its suitability for inclusion in phage therapy protocols, particularly as part of combination therapies targeting MDR infections.

Indexed as

BacteriophagesGenome, ViralKlebsiella pneumoniaeSewageDrug Resistance, Multiple, BacterialHospitalsHost SpecificityHumansHydrogen-Ion ConcentrationPhylogenySewageBacteriophage therapyGenome analysisKlebsiella pneumoniaeMultidrug-resistant bacteriaPhage characterization

Identifiers

PMID40011819
PMCPMC11863478

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.