Timing of DNA damage responses impacts persistence to fluoroquinolones

Abstract

Bacterial persisters are able to survive high concentrations of antibiotics that kill their genetically identical kin. Their tolerances are thought to arise from decreased activity of cellular processes, which limits damage from antibiotics. However, persistence to fluoroquinolones in growth-inhibited populations is not as cut-and-dried, with survivors of treatment exhibiting similar DNA damage as cells that die. In this article, we use a model system of persistence to reveal that the timing of events, such as DNA repair, following fluoroquinolone treatment is critical to survival and show that the same is true for WT populations. These data highlight the importance of processes following antibiotic treatments to persister phenotypes and establish that timing matters for genetically susceptible bacteria struggling to survive fluoroquinolone treatments.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jun 18, 2018
Source ID
10.1073/pnas.1804218115

Entities

People

  • Mark P. Brynildsen
  • Wendy W. K. Mok

Organizations

  • Army Research Office
  • Charles H. Revson Foundation
  • Princeton University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Immunology and Pathology
  • Microbial Pathology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology