Persistent bacterial infections, antibiotic tolerance, and the oxidative stress response

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2013 papers

Abstract

Certain bacterial pathogens are able to evade the host immune system and persist within the human host. The consequences of persistent bacterial infections potentially include increased morbidity and mortality from the infection itself as well as an increased risk of dissemination of disease. Eradication of persistent infections is difficult, often requiring prolonged or repeated courses of antibiotics. During persistent infections, a population or subpopulation of bacteria exists that is refractory to traditional antibiotics, possibly in a non-replicating or metabolically altered state. This review highlights the clinical significance of persistent infections and discusses different in vitro models used to investigate the altered physiology of bacteria during persistent infections. We specifically focus on recent work establishing increased protection against oxidative stress as a key element of the altered physiologic state across different in vitro models and pathogens.

Related Papers

• → Bacterial Persister Cell Formation and Dormancy(2013)697 cited
• → Viable but Nonculturable and Persister Cells Coexist Stochastically and Are Induced by Human Serum(2015)141 cited
• → Treatment strategies targeting persister cell formation in bacterial pathogens(2020)56 cited
• → A novel high-throughput assay identifies small molecules with activity against persister cells(2023)3 cited
• → The Role of PaFicT in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Persister Cell Formation.(2021)