{
  "abstract": "Background Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most common opportunistic pathogens, commonly colonizing the gut of preterm infants and is associated with neonatal infections. Antibiotic use can disrupt the gut microbiome and promote antibiotic resistance. Probiotics possess antimicrobial properties that could serve as prophylactic or alternative strategies to curtail the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the gut and to overcome infection in preterm infants. This study aimed to evaluate the antagonistic potential of probiotic strains against antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae isolated from preterm infant stool samples.Methods Fifty-six antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from meconium/early stool samples of preterm infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit in Johor Bharu, Malaysia [Research no. NMRR-19-3773-52331 (IIR)]. Three probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis JCM 1222T, Bifidobacterium bifidum JCM 1255T, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JCM 11125) were selected and cultured under anaerobic conditions. The antagonistic activity of each probiotic strain against K. pneumoniae was tested using the in vitro cross-streak assay.Results All 56 selected antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates were completely inhibited by B. longum subsp. infantis JCM 1222T, and L. plantarum JCM11125 in the cross-streak assay. In contrast, B. bifidum JCM 1255T inhibited only 1 K. pneumoniae isolate to an intermediate degree, while the remaining 51 isolates showed minimal inhibition, and 4 isolates were not inhibited. B. longum subsp. infantis JCM 1222T and L. plantarum JCM11125 exhibited remarkable antagonistic effects against the isolated antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae derived from preterm infant stool samples. Meanwhile, B. bifidum JCM 1255T exhibited markedly weaker antagonistic effects (IDDF2026-ABS-0492 Figure 1. Antagonistic activity of probiotic strains against antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from stools of preterm infants. Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis JCM 1222T and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JCM 11125 exhibited remarkable antagonistic effects as determined by cross-streak assay. Created with BioRender.com).Conclusions The selected probiotic strains demonstrated promising antagonistic activity against antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae, indicating their potential as adjunctive or preventive strategies against K. pneumoniae infections in preterm infants, particularly in settings with a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. Future in vivo studies and clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings and to establish the optimal combinations, dosages, and safety profiles for neonatal application.Abstract IDDF2026-ABS-0492 Figure 1",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Microbiome Research Group, Research Centre for Life Science and Healthcare, Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute (CBI), University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China"
      ],
      "name": "Jodi Woan-Fei Law"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Microbiome Research Group, Research Centre for Life Science and Healthcare, Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute (CBI), University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China"
      ],
      "name": "Loh Teng-Hern Tan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Neurological Disorder and Aging Research Group (NDA), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia"
      ],
      "name": "Yatinesh Kumari"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical School Johor Bahru, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia"
      ],
      "name": "Jimmy Kok-Foo Lee"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pathogen Resistome Virulome and Diagnostic Research Group (PathRiD), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia"
      ],
      "name": "Vengadesh Letchumanan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia"
      ],
      "name": "Kok-Gan Chan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Microbiome Research Group, Research Centre for Life Science and Healthcare, Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute (CBI), University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China"
      ],
      "name": "Learn-Han Lee"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Next-Generation Precision Medicine and Therapeutics Research Group (NMeT), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia"
      ],
      "name": "Angel Yun-Kuan Thye"
    }
  ],
  "title": "IDDF2026-ABS-0492 Evaluating the antagonistic potential of probiotic strains against antibiotic-resistant klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from preterm infant stools",
  "uid": "930a5355-b1db-59e1-a1e5-1fc81abc6346"
}