Molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial persisters

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewpeer-review

  • Etienne Maisonneuve
  • Kenn Gerdes
All bacteria form persisters, cells that are multidrug tolerant and therefore able to survive antibiotic treatment. Due to the low frequencies of persisters in growing bacterial cultures and the complex underlying molecular mechanisms, the phenomenon has been challenging to study. However, recent technological advances in microfluidics and reporter genes have improved this scenario. Here, we summarize recent progress in the field, revealing the ubiquitous bacterial stress alarmone ppGpp as an emerging central regulator of multidrug tolerance and persistence, both in stochastically and environmentally induced persistence. In several different organisms, toxin-antitoxin modules function as effectors of ppGpp-induced persistence.
Original languageEnglish
JournalCell
Volume157
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)539-548
Number of pages10
ISSN0092-8674
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

ID: 112892948