persister cell formation

Edge evidence

• dormancy process enables persister cell formation RO:0002327

  Dormancy underlies stochastic persister formation.

  • DOI:10.1146/annurev.micro.112408.134306 Lewis reviews persisters as dormant tolerant variants.
• persister cell formation enables antibiotic tolerance RO:0002327

  Persister cells transiently tolerate antibiotics.

  • DOI:10.1038/nrmicro1557 Lewis links persisters to recalcitrant infection.
• persister cell formation characterized by biphasic killing curve

  Persistence produces a biphasic time-kill curve diagnostic of a tolerant subpopulation.

  • DOI:10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0025-2022 A hallmark of persistence is the biphasic killing curve.
• persister cell formation has characteristic minimum inhibitory concentration of susceptible cells

  Persisters retain the same MIC as susceptible cells, distinguishing persistence from resistance.

  • DOI:10.1186/s12866-024-03628-3 Persisters had the same minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) as the susceptible cells.
• antibiotic resistance has characteristic elevated minimum inhibitory concentration

  Resistant bacteria have a significantly higher MIC, contrasting with the unchanged MIC of persisters.

  • DOI:10.1186/s12866-024-03628-3 The MIC of resistant bacteria was significantly higher; scope edge excluding resistance from persistence.
• antibiotic tolerance has characteristic whole-population phenotype

  Tolerance applies to the whole population, whereas persisters are a small subpopulation.

  • DOI:10.1186/s12866-024-03628-3 Persisters are a smaller subpopulation, whereas tolerance is for the microbiota as a whole.
• persister cell formation enables oxidative phosphorylation RO:0002327

  Persisters actively undergo a residual level of oxidative phosphorylation even during nutrient starvation.

  • DOI:10.1111/1751-7915.70042 Persisters still actively generated PMF by undergoing a certain level of oxidative phosphorylation, even after complete nutrient starvation for 24 h.
• oxidative phosphorylation results in proton motive force

  Residual oxidative phosphorylation generates proton motive force that sustains persister survival.

  • DOI:10.1111/1751-7915.70042 Persisters generated PMF via oxidative phosphorylation; ETC components maintain PMF underlying tolerance.