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Hypoionic shock treatment enables aminoglycosides antibiotics to eradicate bacterial persisters

Liu Jiafeng1, Xinmiao Fu1,2, Zengyi Chang1,2

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.

Scientific Reports
|October 6, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Bacterial persisters can be eradicated by aminoglycoside antibiotics combined with a brief hypoionic shock. This simple strategy enhances antibiotic entry, offering a new approach to combat recurrent infections and antibiotic resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Bacterial persisters are dormant cells tolerant to antibiotics, contributing to recurrent infections and antibiotic resistance.
  • Eradicating persisters is challenging due to reduced antibiotic uptake and inactive drug targets in these cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate a novel strategy for eradicating bacterial persisters.
  • To determine if hypoionic shock can potentiate aminoglycoside antibiotic efficacy against persisters.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of bacterial persisters with aminoglycoside antibiotics.
  • Application of hypoionic shock (pure water treatment) for short durations.
  • Assessment of antibiotic efficacy and bacterial eradication.

Main Results:

  • Hypoionic shock significantly enhanced the eradication of bacterial persisters by aminoglycoside antibiotics.
  • Effective eradication was achieved within one minute of hypoionic shock treatment.
  • The potentiation effect was independent of proton motive force, suggesting mechanosensitive ion channels may be involved.

Conclusions:

  • A brief hypoionic shock is a simple and powerful strategy to potentiate aminoglycoside antibiotics for eradicating bacterial persisters.
  • This approach offers a promising method to combat recurrent infections and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

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