J Bacteriol Virol.  2013 Mar;43(1):73-76. 10.4167/jbv.2013.43.1.73.

Persister Cells: Survival Strategies under Antimicrobiotic Stress

• Choi MJ
• Ko KS

• KMID: 1782706
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4167/jbv.2013.43.1.73

Abstract

Persistence is dormant phenotypic variants of regular cells that are tolerant to antibiotics. The persistent cells did not acquire antibiotic resistance genetically, being produced in response to antibiotic stress. Because of dormant phenotypic variants due to little or no cell-wall synthesis, translation, or topoisomerase activity, persistent cells show antibiotic tolerance. Recently, such persistent cells have been reported in many bacterial pathogens and are known to play significant roles in clinical settings, particularly in chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Therefore, development of anti-persister drug and appropriate antibiotic treatment are required to eliminate the persisters and to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance. Screening of genes related to persister formation would lead to new drugs to combat persisters during infection. By reviewing recent publications, we summarize phenomenon of survival and tolerance in persistent cells.

Keyword

Persister; Persistence; Antibiotic resistance; Infection

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Chronic Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Drug Resistance, Microbial
Mass Screening
Anti-Bacterial Agents

Figure

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  Figure 1. Formation of persistent cells (modified from Lewis. Ref. 6) in K. pneumoniae. Schematic killing curves of different responses to colistin in regular cells, persisters and resistant mutants.

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  Figure 2. Resistance versus tolerance to bactericial antibiotics (modified from Wolfson et al., Ref. 9). (A) The quinolone binds to the DNA gyrase altering its function, which causes cell death. (B) The DNA gyrase has been altered so that it fails to bind the quinolones and the cell grows. (C) A toxin molecule inhibits the function of DNA gyrase. This prevents the quinolone from corrupting its functions, resulting in tolerance.

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