Lytic Bacteriophage VB_KmiS-Kmi2C Disrupts Biofilms Formed by Members of the Klebsiella Oxytoca Complex, and Represents a Novel Virus Family and Genus

Aims: This study aimed to characterize the lytic phage vB_KmiS-Kmi2C, isolated from sewage water on a GES-positive strain of Klebsiella michiganensis.

Methods And Results: Comparative phylogenetic and network-based analyses were used to characterize the genome of phage vB_KmiS-Kmi2C (circular genome of 42 234 bp predicted to encode 55 genes), demonstrating it shared little similarity with other known phages. The phage was lytic on clinical strains of K. oxytoca (n = 2) and K. michiganensis (n = 4), and was found to both prevent biofilm formation and disrupt established biofilms produced by these strains.

Conclusions: We have identified a phage capable of killing clinically relevant members of the K. oxytoca complex (KoC). The phage represents a novel virus family (proposed name Dilsviridae) and genus (proposed name Dilsvirus).