The human gut is a complex ecosystem where bacteriophages play a crucial but often overlooked role. Now, KlebPhaCol, a community-driven resource developed by Franklin L. Nobrega and colleagues, provides a comprehensive collection of 53 phages and 74 Klebsiella isolates, offering valuable insights into phage-bacteria interactions in the gut.
One of the most exciting discoveries is a novel gut phage order, Felixvirales, linked to the human microbiome. These phages span five families, targeting 27 sequence types (including ST258, ST11, and ST14) and 28 capsular-locus types (such as KL1 and KL2) across six Klebsiella species. Given Klebsiella’s role in gut colonization and antibiotic resistance, this research provides a new foundation for developing bacteriophage-based therapies.
Freely accessible at www.klebphacol.org, KlebPhaCol invites researchers worldwide to explore and expand this resource, fostering collaboration in the fight against multidrug-resistant pathogens.
Access preprint: DOI: 10.1101/2024.12.02.626457