Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025
07:25
High-throughput Screening of Chemical Compounds to Elucidate Their Effects on Bacterial Persistence
Published on: February 23, 2021
4.2K
A Shift in Perspective: A Role for the Type I Toxin TisB as Persistence-Stabilizing Factor.
Daniel Edelmann1, Bork A Berghoff1
1Institute for Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|April 4, 2022
Summary
Bacterial persister cells survive antibiotics via reduced activity. The type I toxin-antitoxin system TisB/IstR-1 in E. coli stabilizes this state by disrupting the proton motive force, aiding infection relapse.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Bacterial Physiology
Background:
- Bacterial persistence involves multidrug-tolerant persister cells that survive lethal conditions.
- Persister cells lack conventional resistance but cause antibiotic treatment failure and infection relapse.
- Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are implicated in persister formation, though their roles are debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize recent findings on the type I TA system tisB/istR-1 in Escherichia coli.
- To investigate the role of the TisB toxin in stabilizing the bacterial persister state.
- To propose a model for TisB-mediated persister stabilization.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental data on the tisB/istR-1 system.
- Analysis of TisB's membrane-targeting activity and effect on proton motive force (PMF).
- Hypothesis formulation based on experimental evidence.
Main Results:
- TisB is a small, membrane-active toxin that disrupts PMF, causing membrane depolarization.
- TisB is hypothesized to stabilize the persister state primarily through PMF disruption.
- Secondary effects of TisB-induced depolarization may further contribute to persistence.
Conclusions:
- The type I TA system tisB/istR-1 plays a role in bacterial persistence in E. coli.
- TisB-mediated membrane depolarization is a key mechanism for stabilizing persister cells.
- A model is proposed to guide future research on TA systems and bacterial persistence.
Keywords:
SOS responseawakeningfluoroquinolonespersistencetisB/istR-1toxin-antitoxin systemstype I toxinsMore Related Videos
08:51Applying an Inducible Expression System to Study Interference of Bacterial Virulence Factors with Intracellular Signaling
Published on: June 25, 2015
9.4K
07:44Time-Lapse Epifluorescence Microscopy Imaging of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus Heterogeneous Phenotypes
Published on: February 14, 2025
1.1K
Related Concept Videos
01:23Stringent Response in E. coli
68
Bacterial growth is closely tied to nutrient availability, with cells proliferating exponentially under favorable conditions and entering a stationary phase when resources become scarce. This transition is mediated by a regulatory mechanism known as the stringent response, which allows bacteria to adapt to nutrient deprivation by modulating gene expression and metabolic activity.During nutrient scarcity, intracellular amino acid levels decline. It results in the accumulation of uncharged tRNAs...
68
01:17Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems
188
Gram-negative bacteria utilize sophisticated protein secretion systems to transport proteins across their double-membrane envelope into the extracellular environment or host cells. Based on their mechanism of action, these systems are classified into one-step and two-step pathways.One-Step Secretion Systems (Types I, III, IV, and VI)One-step secretion systems bypass the periplasm entirely, forming a continuous channel that spans both the inner and outer membranes:Type I Secretion System (T1SS):...
188
01:30Other Stress Responses in Bacteria
87
Bacteria have global regulatory systems that control several types of stress mechanisms. These include Pho regulon and the heat shock response, which are essential systems for environmental adaptation, such as nutrient limitation and proteotoxic stress. The Pho regulon and the heat shock response exemplify bacterial resilience, enabling rapid adaptation to fluctuating environmental conditions.Pho RegulonBacteria require phosphorus for essential cellular processes, including nucleic acid...
87
02:42Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes
16.2K
Transcriptional attenuation occurs when RNA transcription is prematurely terminated due to the formation of a terminator mRNA hairpin structure. Bacteria use these hairpins to regulate the transcription process and control the synthesis of several amino acids including histidine, lysine, threonine, and phenylalanine. Transcription attenuation takes place in the non-coding regions of mRNA.
There are several different mechanisms used to attenuate transcription. In ribosome mediated...
There are several different mechanisms used to attenuate transcription. In ribosome mediated...
16.2K
01:17Gene Regulation During Sporulation
125
Sporulation is a complex developmental process that allows certain Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium species, to survive extreme environmental conditions. This process is tightly regulated by a series of signaling cascades and transcriptional controls, ensuring the formation of a highly resistant endospore.Sporulation is triggered by unfavorable conditions, such as nutrient depletion, and is governed by a phosphorelay system. One of the sensor kinases, such as...
125
01:21Repressible Operon: trp Operon
203
The trp operon in Escherichia coli exemplifies a repressible operon. It regulates the synthesis of tryptophan through repressor-mediated transcriptional control and attenuation. This dual regulatory mechanism ensures tryptophan biosynthesis occurs only when needed, conserving cellular resources.Structure of the trp OperonThe trp operon consists of five structural genes (trpE, trpD, trpC, trpB, and trpA) that encode enzymes for tryptophan biosynthesis. These genes are transcribed as a single...
203