Combating biofilm-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae infections using a bovine microbial enzyme

Abstract

Abstract The emergence of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae poses significant clinical challenges with limited treatment options. Biofilm is an important virulence factor of K. pneumoniae, serving as a protective barrier against antibiotics and the immune system. Here, we present the remarkable ability of a bovine microbial enzyme to prevent biofilm formation (IC50 2.50 μM) and degrade pre-formed K. pneumoniae biofilms (EC50 1.94 μM) by degrading the matrix polysaccharides. The treatment was effective against four different clinical K. pneumoniae isolates tested. Moreover, the enzyme significantly improved the biofilm sensitivity of a poorly performing broad-spectrum antibiotic, meropenem, and immune cells, resulting in facile biofilm clearance from the mouse wound infection. Notably, well-known powerful enzymes of the same class, cellulase, and α-amylase, were nearly inactive against the K. pneumoniae biofilms. The enzyme exhibited antibiofilm activity without showing toxicity to the mammalian and microbial cells, highlighting the potential of the enzyme for in vivo applications.