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Characterization and genome analysis of the Klebsiella webervirus vB_KpnS_2146−302

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A novel phage specific for Klebsiella pneumoniae, named vB_KpnS_2146 − 302, was isolated from hospital wastewater. Through transmission electron microscopy observation and genomic analysis, this phage was found to belong to the genus Webervirus in the family Drexlerviridae. Biological studies showed that vB_KpnS_2146 − 302 has a narrow host range and exhibits specific lytic activity against K. pneumoniae. A one-step growth curve showed a latency period of 10 minutes and a burst size of 1125 PFU/cell. The phage remained stable within a pH range of 3–9 and a temperature range of 26–60°C. Whole-genome sequencing analysis showed that the double-stranded DNA genome of vB_KpnS_2146 − 302 is 50,299 bp in length and contains 76 open reading frames. Experiments in which cells were treated with proteinase K or periodate suggested that the carbohydrate structure of K. pneumoniae is involved in the adsorption of this phage. This study shows that phage vB_KpnS_2146 − 302 might be a new candidate for the development of phage therapy against K. pneumoniae infections.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation Project (no. 5202027).

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Author notes

  1. Huasheng Yu and Bohai Du contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China

    Huasheng Yu & Xiangna Zhao

  2. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese PLA, Beijing, China

    Huasheng Yu, Bohai Du, Hong Peng, Xiao Wei & Xiangna Zhao

Authors
  1. Huasheng Yu
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  2. Bohai Du
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  3. Hong Peng
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  4. Xiao Wei
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  5. Xiangna Zhao
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Contributions

Huasheng Yu and Bohai Du did the experiments and contributed equally to this study as joint first authors. Hong Peng and Xiao Wei analyzed the data. Xiangna Zhao designed the experiments. Xiangna Zhao managed the project. Huasheng Yu and Xiangna Zhao wrote the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xiao Wei or Xiangna Zhao.

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The annotated genome sequence for the phage was deposited in the NCBI nucleotide database under the accession number OQ622006.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Yu, H., Du, B., Peng, H. et al. Characterization and genome analysis of the Klebsiella webervirus vB_KpnS_2146−302. Arch Virol 171, 15 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-025-06454-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-025-06454-8

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