Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.
MICROBIOLOGY: Noninherited Resistance to Antibiotics
Bruce R. Levin
Why is it that the rate of mortality of bacteria exposed to bactericidal antibiotics declines with time but sensitive cells survive for hours or even days of exposure? The mechanisms responsible for this persistence have perplexed microbiologists for decades. In his Perspective, Levin discusses a pair of recent studies (Balaban et al., Miller et al.) that shed light on the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon and the way in which these bacterial persisters emerge. Levin also considers the potential clinical implications of this non-inherited form of resistance to antibiotics.
The author is in the Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. E-mail: blevin{at}emory.edu
The editors suggest the following Related Resources on Science sites:
In Science Magazine
REPORTS
Nathalie Q. Balaban, Jack Merrin, Remy Chait, Lukasz Kowalik, and Stanislas Leibler (10 September 2004) Science305 (5690), 1622.
[DOI: 10.1126/science.1099390] |Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »|Supporting Online Material »
REPORTS
Christine Miller, Line Elnif Thomsen, Carina Gaggero, Ronen Mosseri, Hanne Ingmer, and Stanley N. Cohen (10 September 2004) Science305 (5690), 1629.
[DOI: 10.1126/science.1101630] |Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »|Supporting Online Material »
Selective Killing of Bacterial Persisters by a Single Chemical Compound without Affecting Normal Antibiotic-Sensitive Cells.
J.-S. Kim, P. Heo, T.-J. Yang, K.-S. Lee, D.-H. Cho, B. T. Kim, J.-H. Suh, H.-J. Lim, D. Shin, S.-K. Kim, et al. (2011)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.
55, 5380-5383
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Decrease in Penicillin Susceptibility Due to Heat Shock Protein ClpL in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
T. D.-H. Tran, H.-Y. Kwon, E.-H. Kim, K.-W. Kim, D. E. Briles, S. Pyo, and D.-K. Rhee (2011)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.
55, 2714-2728
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Protection of Salmonella by ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli in the presence of otherwise lethal drug concentrations.
M. H. Perlin, D. R. Clark, C. McKenzie, H. Patel, N. Jackson, C. Kormanik, C. Powell, A. Bajorek, D. A. Myers, L. A. Dugatkin, et al. (2009)
Proc R Soc B
276, 3759-3768
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Testing of Experimental Compounds in a Relapse Model of Tuberculosis Using Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Gene-Disrupted Mice.
L. K. Woolhiser, D. R. Hoff, K. S. Marietta, I. M. Orme, and A. J. Lenaerts (2009)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.
53, 306-308
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Differential Adaptive Response and Survival of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Planktonic and Biofilm Cells Exposed to Benzalkonium Chloride.
A. K. Mangalappalli-Illathu, S. Vidovic, and D. R. Korber (2008)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.
52, 3669-3680
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
The evolution of contact-dependent inhibition in non-growing populations of Escherichia coli.
M. Lemonnier, B. R Levin, T. Romeo, K. Garner, M.-R. Baquero, J. Mercante, E. Lemichez, F. Baquero, and J. Blazquez (2008)
Proc R Soc B
275, 3-10
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Conditional Mutation of an Essential Putative Glycoprotease Eliminates Autolysis in Staphylococcus aureus.
L. Zheng, C. Yu, K. Bayles, I. Lasa, and Y. Ji (2007)
J. Bacteriol.
189, 2734-2742
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Antibiotic treatment in vitro of phenotypically tolerant bacterial populations.
