Lipopolysaccharide-specific bacteriophage for Klebsiella pneumoniae C3

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Abstract
Bacteriophage FC3-1 is one of several specific bacteriophages of K. pneumoniae C3 isolated in a laboratory. Unlike receptors for other Klebsiella phages, the bacteriophage FC3-1 receptor was shown to be lipopolysaccharide, specifically the polysaccharide fraction (O-antigen and core region). Capsular polysaccharide, outer membrane proteins and lipid A were not involved in phage binding. Mutants resistant to this phage were isolated and were devoid of lipopolysaccharide O-antigen, as shown by several criteria, but contain capsular material serologically identical to that of the wild type. The polysaccharide fraction is the primary phage receptor, indicating that it is available to the phage.