Phage Resistance in Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 Evolves via Diverse Mutations That Culminate in Impaired Adsorption

Abstract

The therapeutic use of bacteriophage (phage) is garnering renewed interest in the setting of difficult-to-treat infections. Phage resistance is one major limitation of phage therapy; therefore, developing effective strategies to avert or lessen its impact is critical. Characterization of in vitro phage resistance may be an important first step in evaluating the relative likelihood with which phage-resistant populations emerge, the most likely phenotypes of resistant mutants, and the effect of certain phage cocktail combinations in increasing or decreasing the genetic barrier to resistance. If this information confers predictive power in vivo , then routine studies of phage-resistant mutants and their in vitro evolution should be a valuable means for improving the safety and efficacy of phage therapy in humans.