Intracellular persister: A stealth agent recalcitrant to antibiotics

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Bacterial Pathogenesis

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat.
• Persister cells contribute to the recalcitrance of bacterial infections to antibiotic therapy.
• Understanding persister cell biology is crucial for developing novel treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of antibiotic persister formation.
• To discuss the role of host-pathogen interactions in persister biology.
• To highlight the heterogeneity of persister cells.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of relevant studies on bacterial persisters.
• Analysis of mechanisms underlying persister cell formation.
• Synthesis of information on host-pathogen interactions and persister heterogeneity.

Main Results:

• Persister cells are a subpopulation of bacteria phenotypically tolerant to antibiotics.
• Their formation is influenced by complex interplay between bacterial physiology and host immune responses.
• Heterogeneity within persister populations contributes to treatment failure and infection relapse.

Conclusions:

• Antibiotic persisters represent a significant challenge in treating bacterial infections.
• Targeting persister formation and heterogeneity holds promise for improving therapeutic outcomes.
• Further research into the intricate mechanisms governing persister cells is warranted.