Bacterial Persisters and Infection: Past, Present, and Progressing

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Bacterial Physiology

Background:

• Persisters are nongrowing, antibiotic-tolerant bacteria within a population.
• Bacterial stress responses facilitate survival in harsh conditions, including antibiotic exposure.
• During infection, pathogens encounter host stresses, forming persisters that survive antibiotics and immune responses, potentially causing infection relapse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the history and importance of antibiotic persisters in infection.
• To highlight research bridging antibiotic persisters and host-pathogen interactions.
• To emphasize the need to merge these fields for combating persistent infections and antibiotic resistance.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing studies.
• Analysis of evidence for persister importance in infection.
• Identification of research connecting antibiotic persisters with host-pathogen interactions.

Main Results:

• Persister formation is triggered by environmental cues and involves bacterial stress response pathways.
• Persisters contribute to infection relapse by surviving both antibiotics and host immune responses.
• Current research predominantly focuses on in vitro antibiotic survival, with limited investigation into host interactions.

Conclusions:

• Understanding persister survival within host environments is critical but underinvestigated.
• Merging the fields of antibiotic persisters and host-pathogen interactions is essential.
• Further research is needed to address the role of persisters in persistent infections and the antibiotic resistance crisis.