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DNA-crosslinker cisplatin eradicates bacterial persister cells

Nityananda Chowdhury1, Thammajun L Wood1, Mariano Martínez-Vázquez2

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802-4400, Pennsylvania.

Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|February 26, 2016
PubMed

Insights

The anti-cancer drug cisplatin eradicates dormant bacterial persister cells, which are tolerant to antibiotics. This drug shows broad-spectrum activity against various pathogens, offering new hope for treating persistent infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Bacterial persister cells survive antibiotic treatment by entering a dormant, non-metabolizing state.
  • This antibiotic tolerance contributes to chronic infections and high mortality rates globally.
  • Current antimicrobials are ineffective against these persister cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of the anti-cancer drug cisplatin against bacterial persister cells.
  • To determine the mechanism of action of cisplatin on persister cells.
  • To evaluate the broad-spectrum activity of cisplatin against various pathogenic bacteria.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of Escherichia coli K-12 persister cells with cisplatin.
  • Comparison of cisplatin's efficacy with mitomycin C against Pseudomonas aeruginosa persister cells.
  • Testing cisplatin against persister cells of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and P. aeruginosa.

Main Results:

  • Cisplatin eradicated Escherichia coli K-12 persister cells via a growth-independent mechanism.
  • Cisplatin was more effective than mitomycin C in killing Pseudomonas aeruginosa persister cells.
  • Cisplatin demonstrated high efficacy against persister cells of multiple pathogens, including clinical isolates.

Conclusions:

  • Cisplatin exhibits broad-spectrum activity against bacterial persister cells.
  • Cisplatin represents a potential therapeutic agent for combating persistent bacterial infections.
  • The anti-cancer drug cisplatin offers a novel strategy against antibiotic-tolerant bacteria.
Keywords:
DNA-crosslinkingbiofilmcisplatinpersistence

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