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Jandl B, Dighe S, Gasche C, Makristathis A, Muttenthaler M. Intestinal biofilms: pathophysiological relevance, host defense, and therapeutic opportunities. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024:e0013323. [PMID: 38995034 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00133-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYThe human intestinal tract harbors a profound variety of microorganisms that live in symbiosis with the host and each other. It is a complex and highly dynamic environment whose homeostasis directly relates to human health. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and polymicrobial biofilms have been associated with gastrointestinal diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, and colorectal cancers. This review covers the molecular composition and organization of intestinal biofilms, mechanistic aspects of biofilm signaling networks for bacterial communication and behavior, and synergistic effects in polymicrobial biofilms. It further describes the clinical relevance and diseases associated with gut biofilms, the role of biofilms in antimicrobial resistance, and the intestinal host defense system and therapeutic strategies counteracting biofilms. Taken together, this review summarizes the latest knowledge and research on intestinal biofilms and their role in gut disorders and provides directions toward the development of biofilm-specific treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Jandl
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Doctoral School in Chemistry (DoSChem), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Satish Dighe
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Christoph Gasche
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Loha for Life, Center for Gastroenterology and Iron Deficiency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Athanasios Makristathis
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Muttenthaler
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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2
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Sanchez-Torres V, Kirigo J, Wood TK. Implications of lytic phage infections inducing persistence. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102482. [PMID: 38714140 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Phage therapy holds much promise as an alternative to antibiotics for fighting infection. However, this approach is no panacea as recent results show that a small fraction of cells survives lytic phage infection due to both dormancy (i.e. formation of persister cells) and resistance (genetic change). In this brief review, we summarize evidence suggesting phages induce the persister state. Therefore, it is predicted that phage cocktails should be combined with antipersister compounds to eradicate bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Sanchez-Torres
- Escuela de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Joy Kirigo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Thomas K Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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3
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Helena-Bueno K, Chan LI, Melnikov SV. Rippling life on a dormant planet: hibernation of ribosomes, RNA polymerases, and other essential enzymes. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1386179. [PMID: 38770025 PMCID: PMC11102965 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1386179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Throughout the tree of life, cells and organisms enter states of dormancy or hibernation as a key feature of their biology: from a bacterium arresting its growth in response to starvation, to a plant seed anticipating placement in fertile ground, to a human oocyte poised for fertilization to create a new life. Recent research shows that when cells hibernate, many of their essential enzymes hibernate too: they disengage from their substrates and associate with a specialized group of proteins known as hibernation factors. Here, we summarize how hibernation factors protect essential cellular enzymes from undesired activity or irreparable damage in hibernating cells. We show how molecular hibernation, once viewed as rare and exclusive to certain molecules like ribosomes, is in fact a widespread property of biological molecules that is required for the sustained persistence of life on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sergey V. Melnikov
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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4
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Fernández-García L, Song S, Kirigo J, Battisti ME, Petersen ME, Tomás M, Wood TK. Toxin/antitoxin systems induce persistence and work in concert with restriction/modification systems to inhibit phage. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0338823. [PMID: 38054715 PMCID: PMC10783111 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03388-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE To date, there are no reports of phage infection-inducing persistence. Therefore, our results are important since we show for the first time that a phage-defense system, the MqsRAC toxin/antitoxin system, allows the host to survive infection by forming persister cells, rather than inducing cell suicide. Moreover, we demonstrate that the MqsRAC system works in concert with restriction/modification systems. These results imply that if phage therapy is to be successful, anti-persister compounds need to be administered along with phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fernández-García
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Microbiology Department of Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), Microbiology Translational and Multidisciplinary (MicroTM)-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC) and University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Sooyeon Song
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Animal Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-Si, Jellabuk-Do, South Korea
- Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-Si, Jellabuk-Do, South Korea
| | - Joy Kirigo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michael E. Battisti
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Maiken E. Petersen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - María Tomás
- Microbiology Department of Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), Microbiology Translational and Multidisciplinary (MicroTM)-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC) and University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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5
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Nguyen L, DeVico B, Mannan M, Chang M, Rada Santacruz C, Siragusa C, Everhart S, Fazen CH. Tea Tree Essential Oil Kills Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis Persisters. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1404. [PMID: 37759804 PMCID: PMC10526169 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Persister cells are a small subpopulation of non-growing bacteria within a population that can survive long exposures to antibiotic treatment. Following antibiotic removal, persister cells can regrow and populate, playing a key role in the chronic reoccurrence of bacterial infections. The development of new molecules and methods to kill bacterial persisters is critical. Essential oils and other natural products have long been studied for their antimicrobial effects. Here, we studied the effectiveness of tea tree essential oil (TTO), a common component in many commercial care products, against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis persister cells. Using biphasic kill curve assays, we found that concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0% TTO for E. coli and S. epidermidis, respectively, completely eradicated persister cells over a period of 24 h, with the component terpinen-4-ol responsible for most of the killing. Using a colorimetric assay, it was determined that the TTO exhibited its anti-persister effects through a membrane disruption mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Christopher H. Fazen
- Department of Chemistry, Drew University, Madison, NJ 07940, USA; (L.N.); (B.D.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (C.R.S.); (C.S.); (S.E.)
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7
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Song S, Wood TK. Manipulating indole symbiont signalling. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 14:691-696. [PMID: 35667868 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sooyeon Song
- Department of Animal Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea
- Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Thomas K Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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8
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Li Z, Sun F, Fu X, Chen Y. 5-Methylindole kills various bacterial pathogens and potentiates aminoglycoside against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14010. [PMID: 36124131 PMCID: PMC9482361 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens has become a severe threat to human health. To counteract antibiotic resistance, it is of significance to discover new antibiotics and also improve the efficacy of existing antibiotics. Here we show that 5-methylindole, a derivative of the interspecies signaling molecule indole, is able to directly kill various Gram-positive pathogens (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) and also Gram-negative ones (e.g., Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), with 2-methylindole being less potent. Particularly, 5-methylindole can kill methicillin-resistant S. aureus, multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and antibiotic-tolerant S. aureus persisters. Furthermore, 5-methylindole significantly potentiates aminoglycoside antibiotics, but not fluoroquinolones, killing of S. aureus. In addition, 5-iodoindole also potentiates aminoglycosides. Our findings open a new avenue to develop indole derivatives like 5-methylindole as antibacterial agents or adjuvants of aminoglycoside.
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9
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Fernández-García L, Muthami JM, Tomas M, Wood TK. What are the options for treating infections by persister-forming pathogens? Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4500-4504. [PMID: 35912818 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fernández-García
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.,Microbiology Translational and Multidisciplinary (MicroTM)-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC) and Microbiology Department of Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Joy M Muthami
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Maria Tomas
- Microbiology Translational and Multidisciplinary (MicroTM)-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC) and Microbiology Department of Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Thomas K Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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10
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Abstract
Looking back fondly on the first 15 years of Microbial Biotechnology, a trend is emerging that biotechnology is moving from studies that focus on whole-cell populations, where heterogeneity exists even during robust growth, to those with an emphasis on single cells. This instils optimism that insights will be made into myriad aspects of bacterial growth in communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical EngineeringPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania16802‐4400USA
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11
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Hossain T, Deter HS, Peters EJ, Butzin NC. Antibiotic tolerance, persistence, and resistance of the evolved minimal cell, Mycoplasma mycoides JCVI-Syn3B. iScience 2021; 24:102391. [PMID: 33997676 PMCID: PMC8091054 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem, but bacteria can evade antibiotic treatment via tolerance and persistence. Antibiotic persisters are a small subpopulation of bacteria that tolerate antibiotics due to a physiologically dormant state. Hence, persistence is considered a major contributor to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant and relapsing infections. Here, we used the synthetically developed minimal cell Mycoplasma mycoides JCVI-Syn3B to examine essential mechanisms of antibiotic survival. The minimal cell contains only 473 genes, and most genes are essential. Its reduced complexity helps to reveal hidden phenomenon and fundamental biological principles can be explored because of less redundancy and feedback between systems compared to natural cells. We found that Syn3B evolves antibiotic resistance to different types of antibiotics expeditiously. The minimal cell also tolerates and persists against multiple antibiotics. It contains a few already identified persister-related genes, although lacking many systems previously linked to persistence (e.g. toxin-antitoxin systems, ribosome hibernation genes).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahmina Hossain
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USA
| | - Heather S. Deter
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Eliza J. Peters
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USA
| | - Nicholas C. Butzin
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USA
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13
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Song S, Wood TK. The Primary Physiological Roles of Autoinducer 2 in Escherichia coli Are Chemotaxis and Biofilm Formation. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020386. [PMID: 33672862 PMCID: PMC7918475 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoinducer 2 (AI-2) is a ubiquitous metabolite but, instead of acting as a "universal signal," relatively few phenotypes have been associated with it, and many scientists believe AI-2 is often a metabolic byproduct rather than a signal. Here, the aim is to present evidence that AI-2 influences both biofilm formation and motility (swarming and chemotaxis), using Escherichia coli as the model system, to establish AI-2 as a true signal with an important physiological role in this bacterium. In addition, AI-2 signaling is compared to the other primary signal of E. coli, indole, and it is shown that they have opposite effects on biofilm formation and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sooyeon Song
- Department of Animal Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-si 54896, Jeollabuk-do, Korea;
| | - Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-7000, USA
- Correspondence:
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14
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Wood TK, Song S. Forming and waking dormant cells: The ppGpp ribosome dimerization persister model. Biofilm 2020; 2:100018. [PMID: 33447804 PMCID: PMC7798447 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2019.100018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Procaryotes starve and face myriad stresses. The bulk population actively resists the stress, but a small population weathers the stress by entering a resting stage known as persistence. No mutations occur, and so persisters behave like wild-type cells upon removal of the stress and regrowth; hence, persisters are phenotypic variants. In contrast, resistant bacteria have mutations that allow cells to grow in the presence of antibiotics, and tolerant cells survive antibiotics better than actively-growing cells due to their slow growth (such as that of the stationary phase). In this review, we focus on the latest developments in studies related to the formation and resuscitation of persister cells and propose the guanosine pentaphosphate/tetraphosphate (henceforth ppGpp) ribosome dimerization persister (PRDP) model for entering and exiting the persister state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802-4400, USA
| | - Sooyeon Song
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802-4400, USA
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15
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Khan F, Pham DTN, Tabassum N, Oloketuyi SF, Kim YM. Treatment strategies targeting persister cell formation in bacterial pathogens. Crit Rev Microbiol 2020; 46:665-688. [DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2020.1822278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fazlurrahman Khan
- Institute of Food Science, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea
| | - Dung Thuy Nguyen Pham
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea
| | - Nazia Tabassum
- Industrial Convergence Bionix Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea
| | | | - Young-Mog Kim
- Institute of Food Science, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea
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Moreira Martins PM, Gong T, de Souza AA, Wood TK. Copper Kills Escherichia coli Persister Cells. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9080506. [PMID: 32806704 PMCID: PMC7459663 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9080506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their reduced metabolism, persister cells can survive most antimicrobial treatments, which usually rely on corrupting active biochemical pathways. Therefore, molecules that kill bacterial persisters should function in a metabolism-independent manner. Some anti-persister compounds have been found previously, such as the DNA-crosslinkers mitomycin C and cisplatin, but more effective and lower cost alternatives are needed. Copper alloys have been used since ancient times due to their antimicrobial properties, and they are still used in agriculture to control plant bacterial diseases. By stopping transcription with rifampicin and by treating with ampicillin to remove non-persister cells, we created a population that consists solely of Escherichia coli persister cells. Using this population of persister cells, we demonstrate that cupric compounds kill E. coli persister cells. Hence, copper ions may be used in controlling the spread of important bacterial strains that withstand treatment with conventional antimicrobials by forming persister cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Maria Moreira Martins
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; (P.M.M.M.); (T.G.)
- Biotechnology Lab, Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, Cordeirópolis-SP 13490-970, Brazil;
| | - Ting Gong
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; (P.M.M.M.); (T.G.)
| | - Alessandra A. de Souza
- Biotechnology Lab, Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, Cordeirópolis-SP 13490-970, Brazil;
| | - Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; (P.M.M.M.); (T.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Song S, Wood TK. Combatting Persister Cells With Substituted Indoles. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1565. [PMID: 32733426 PMCID: PMC7358577 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Given that a subpopulation of most bacterial cells becomes dormant due to stress, and that the resting cells of pathogens can revive and reconstitute infections, it is imperative to find methods to treat dormant cells to eradicate infections. The dormant bacteria that are not spores or cysts are known as persister cells. Remarkably, in contrast to the original report that incorrectly indicated indole increases persistence, a large number of indole-related compounds have been found in the last few years that kill persister cells. Hence, in this review, along with a summary of recent results related to persister cell formation and resuscitation, we focus on the ability of indole and substituted indoles to combat the persister cells of both pathogens and non-pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sooyeon Song
- Department of Animal Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea
| | - Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
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Mullis MM, Rambo IM, Baker BJ, Reese BK. Diversity, Ecology, and Prevalence of Antimicrobials in Nature. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2518. [PMID: 31803148 PMCID: PMC6869823 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms possess a variety of survival mechanisms, including the production of antimicrobials that function to kill and/or inhibit the growth of competing microorganisms. Studies of antimicrobial production have largely been driven by the medical community in response to the rise in antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and have involved isolated pure cultures under artificial laboratory conditions neglecting the important ecological roles of these compounds. The search for new natural products has extended to biofilms, soil, oceans, coral reefs, and shallow coastal sediments; however, the marine deep subsurface biosphere may be an untapped repository for novel antimicrobial discovery. Uniquely, prokaryotic survival in energy-limited extreme environments force microbial populations to either adapt their metabolism to outcompete or produce novel antimicrobials that inhibit competition. For example, subsurface sediments could yield novel antimicrobial genes, while at the same time answering important ecological questions about the microbial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M. Mullis
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United States
| | - Ian M. Rambo
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, United States
| | - Brett J. Baker
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, United States
| | - Brandi Kiel Reese
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United States
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Song S, Wood TK. Persister cells resuscitate via ribosome modification by 23S rRNA pseudouridine synthase RluD. Environ Microbiol 2019; 22:850-857. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sooyeon Song
- Department of Chemical EngineeringPennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania 16802‐4400 USA
| | - Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical EngineeringPennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania 16802‐4400 USA
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