A treatment designed to kill superbug bacteria actually triggers them to build a nearly indestructible protective shield.
April 23, 2026
Original Paper
Phage depolymerase modulates virulence and biofilm in hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae by CPS-mediated suppression of type 3 fimbriae
SSRN · 6570542
The Takeaway
Phage depolymerases are enzymes meant to strip away the outer coating of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae. Instead of dying, the bacteria respond by ramping up the production of fimbriae, which are tiny hooks used to create thick biofilms. These biofilms make the bacteria far more resistant to the body's immune system than they were before the treatment. This backfire effect shows that some antibiotic strategies might actually be teaching our deadliest germs how to survive.
From the abstract
Phage-derived depolymerases represent a promising antibiotic alternative for treating Klebsiella pneumoniae infections. Depolymerases can increase the sensitivity of bacteria to the host immune system and complement-mediated killing by specifically degrading capsular polysaccharides (CPS). However, the impact of depolymerases on bacterial biofilm formation remains unclear. This study found that depolymerase treatment significantly enhances the biofilm formation capability of hypervirulent K. pne