Persister cells

Persister cells are a small fraction of bacteria that are able to survive antibiotic treatment. These cells are not resistant to antibiotics, but are able to survive due to their dormant state. This allows them to repopulate the bacterial colony once the antibiotic treatment has ended.

Characteristics

Persister cells are characterized by their ability to enter a dormant state, which allows them to survive in the presence of antibiotics. This is not due to any genetic resistance, but rather a phenotypic switch that allows them to enter this dormant state. This switch is often triggered by environmental stressors, such as the presence of antibiotics.

Role in Disease

The presence of persister cells can complicate the treatment of bacterial infections. Even after a course of antibiotics has killed the majority of the bacterial colony, the persister cells can remain and repopulate the colony once the antibiotics are no longer present. This can lead to recurrent infections and the need for repeated courses of antibiotics.

Research and Future Directions

Research into persister cells is ongoing, with the hope of finding ways to effectively target and kill these cells. This could potentially lead to more effective treatments for bacterial infections and reduce the likelihood of recurrent infections.

See Also

• Antibiotic resistance
• Bacterial colony
• Dormancy