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Vasudevan S, David H, Chanemougam L, Ramani J, Ramesh Sangeetha M, Solomon AP. Emergence of persister cells in Staphylococcus aureus: calculated or fortuitous move? Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:64-75. [PMID: 36548910 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2159319] [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: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A stable but reversible phenotype switch from normal to persister state is advantageous to the intracellular pathogens to cause recurrent infections and to evade the host immune system. Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile opportunistic pathogen known to cause chronic infections with significant mortality. One of the notable features is the ability to switch to a per-sisters cell, which is found in planktonic and biofilm states. This phenotypic switch is always an open question to explore the hidden fundamental science that coheres with a calculated or fortuitous move. Toxin-antitoxin modules, nutrient stress, and an erroneous translation-enabled state of dormancy entail this persistent behaviour in S. aureus. It is paramount to get a clear picture of why the cell chooses to enter a persistent condition, as it would decide the course of treatment. Analyzing the exit from a persistent state to an active state and the subsequent repercussion of this transition is essential to determine its role in chronic infections. This review attempts to provide a constructed argument discussing the most widely accepted mechanisms and identifying the various attributes of persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahana Vasudevan
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Helma David
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Lakshmi Chanemougam
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Jayalakshmi Ramani
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Maanasa Ramesh Sangeetha
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Adline Princy Solomon
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
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Bollen C, Louwagie E, Verstraeten N, Michiels J, Ruelens P. Environmental, mechanistic and evolutionary landscape of antibiotic persistence. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57309. [PMID: 37395716 PMCID: PMC10398667 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recalcitrant infections pose a serious challenge by prolonging antibiotic therapies and contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance, thereby threatening the successful treatment of bacterial infections. One potential contributing factor in persistent infections is antibiotic persistence, which involves the survival of transiently tolerant subpopulations of bacteria. This review summarizes the current understanding of antibiotic persistence, including its clinical significance and the environmental and evolutionary factors at play. Additionally, we discuss the emerging concept of persister regrowth and potential strategies to combat persister cells. Recent advances highlight the multifaceted nature of persistence, which is controlled by deterministic and stochastic elements and shaped by genetic and environmental factors. To translate in vitro findings to in vivo settings, it is crucial to include the heterogeneity and complexity of bacterial populations in natural environments. As researchers continue to gain a more holistic understanding of this phenomenon and develop effective treatments for persistent bacterial infections, the study of antibiotic persistence is likely to become increasingly complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celien Bollen
- Centre of Microbial and Plant GeneticsKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIBLeuvenBelgium
| | - Elen Louwagie
- Centre of Microbial and Plant GeneticsKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIBLeuvenBelgium
| | - Natalie Verstraeten
- Centre of Microbial and Plant GeneticsKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIBLeuvenBelgium
| | - Jan Michiels
- Centre of Microbial and Plant GeneticsKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIBLeuvenBelgium
| | - Philip Ruelens
- Centre of Microbial and Plant GeneticsKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIBLeuvenBelgium
- Laboratory of Socioecology and Social EvolutionKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
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3
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Hernandez-Morfa M, Reinoso-Vizcaíno NM, Olivero NB, Zappia VE, Cortes PR, Jaime A, Echenique J. Host Cell Oxidative Stress Promotes Intracellular Fluoroquinolone Persisters of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0436422. [PMID: 36445159 PMCID: PMC9769771 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04364-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial persisters represent a small subpopulation that tolerates high antibiotic concentrations without acquiring heritable resistance, and it may be generated by environmental factors. Here, we report the first antibiotic persistence mechanism in Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is induced by oxidative stress conditions and allows the pneumococcus to survive in the presence of fluoroquinolones. We demonstrated that fluoroquinolone persistence is prompted by both the impact of growth arrest and the oxidative stress response induced by H2O2 in bacterial cells. This process protected pneumococci against the deleterious effects of high ROS levels induced by fluoroquinolones. Importantly, S. pneumoniae develops persistence during infection, and is dependent on the oxidative stress status of the host cells, indicating that its transient intracellular life contributes to this mechanism. Furthermore, our findings suggest persistence may influence the outcome of antibiotic therapy and be part of a multistep mechanism in the evolution of fluoroquinolone resistance. IMPORTANCE In S. pneumoniae, different mechanisms that counteract antibiotic effects have been described, such as vancomycin tolerance, heteroresistance to penicillin and fluoroquinolone resistance, which critically affect the therapeutic efficacy. Antibiotic persistence is a type of antibiotic tolerance that allows a bacterial subpopulation to survive lethal antimicrobial concentrations. In this work, we used a host-cell infection model to reveal fluoroquinolone persistence in S. pneumoniae. This mechanism is induced by oxidative stress that the pneumococcus must overcome to survive in host cells. Many fluoroquinolones, such as levofloxacin and moxifloxacin, have a broad spectrum of activity against bacterial pathogens of community-acquired pneumonia, and they are used to treat pneumococcal diseases. However, the emergence of fluoroquinolone-resistant strains complicates antibiotic treatment of invasive infections. Consequently, antibiotic persistence in S. pneumoniae is clinically relevant due to prolonged exposure to fluoroquinolones likely favors the acquisition of mutations that generate antibiotic resistance in persisters. In addition, this work contributes to the knowledge of antibiotic persistence mechanisms in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirelys Hernandez-Morfa
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Nicolás M. Reinoso-Vizcaíno
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Nadia B. Olivero
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Victoria E. Zappia
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Paulo R. Cortes
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Andrea Jaime
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - José Echenique
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
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Transcriptome analysis and prediction of the metabolic state of stress-induced viable but non-culturable Bacillus subtilis cells. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18015. [PMID: 36289289 PMCID: PMC9605947 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21102-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Many bacteria adapt their physiology and enter the viable but non-culturable state to survive prolonged exposure to adverse environmental conditions. The VBNC cells maintain active metabolism, membrane integrity and gene transcription. However, they lose the ability to form colonies on a conventional culture media. Thus, standard colony counting methods cannot detect these alive but dormant cells. The Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis was found to enter the VBNC state when pre-exposed to osmotic stress and treated with a lethal dose of kanamycin. These cells reduced their metabolic activity, ceased growth and division and became kanamycin-tolerant. Interestingly, despite active metabolism, the majority of the kanamycin tolerant cells could not be revived on LB agar. In this study, we use a robust RNA-Seq technique to elucidate the differences in transcriptional profiles of B. subtilis VBNC cells. A comparative analysis of differently expressed genes and operons performed in this study indicates high similarities in transcriptional responses of VBNC and kanamycin-sensitive cells to antibiotic treatment. Moreover, this work reveals that VBNC cells strongly upregulate genes involved in proline uptake and catabolism, suggesting a putative role of proline as nutrient in VBNC cells.
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Rapid Aggregation of Staphylococcus aureus in Synovial Fluid Is Influenced by Synovial Fluid Concentration, Viscosity, and Fluid Dynamics, with Evidence of Polymer Bridging. mBio 2022; 13:e0023622. [PMID: 35254134 PMCID: PMC9040867 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00236-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Early bacterial survival in the postsurgical joint is still a mystery. Recently, synovial fluid-induced aggregation was proposed as a potential mechanism of bacterial protection upon entry into the joint. As synovial fluid is secreted back into the joint cavity following surgery, rapid fluctuations in synovial fluid concentrations, composition, and viscosity occur. These changes, along with fluid movement resulting from postoperative joint motion, modify the environment and potentially affect the kinetics of aggregate formation. Through this work, we sought to evaluate the influence of exposure time, synovial fluid concentration, viscosity, and fluid dynamics on aggregation. Furthermore, we aimed to elucidate the primary mechanism of aggregate formation by assessing the interaction of bacterial adhesins with the synovial fluid polymer fibrinogen. Following incubation under each simulated postoperative joint condition, the aggregates were imaged using confocal microscopy. Our analysis revealed the formation of two distinct aggregate phenotypes, depending on whether the incubation was conducted under static or dynamic conditions. Using a surface adhesin mutant, we have narrowed down the genetic determinants for synovial fluid aggregate formation and identified essential host polymers. We report here that synovial fluid-induced aggregation is influenced by various changes specific to the postsurgical joint environment. While we now have evidence that select synovial fluid polymers facilitate bridging aggregation through essential bacterial adhesins, we suspect that their utility is limited by the increasing viscosity under static conditions. Furthermore, dynamic fluid movement recovers the ability of the bacteria with surface proteins present to aggregate under high-viscosity conditions, yielding large, globular aggregates.
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In vitro antagonistic inhibitory effects of palm seed crude oils and their main constituent, lauric acid, with oxacillin in Staphylococcus aureus. Sci Rep 2021; 11:177. [PMID: 33420288 PMCID: PMC7794437 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80481-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are a serious global threat, and with the emergence of antibiotic resistance, even more difficult to treat. One of the possible complications in antistaphylococcal therapy represents negative interactions of antibiotics with food. In this study, the in vitro interaction between oxacillin and crude palm seed oil from Astrocaryum vulgare, Cocos nucifera, and Elaeis guineensis against nine strains of S. aureus was determined using the checkerboard method. Lauric acid was identified as a major constituent of all tested oils by gas chromatography. The results showed strong concentration dependent antagonistic interactions between palm oils and oxacillin with values of fractional inhibitory concentrations indices ranging from 4.02 to 8.56 at concentrations equal or higher than 1024 µg/mL of the tested oils. Similarly, lauric acid in combination with oxacillin produced antagonistic action with fractional inhibitory concentration indices ranging from 4.01 to 4.28 at 1024 µg/mL. These findings suggest that interference between oxacillin and palm oils and their constituents can negatively affect the treatment of staphylococcal infections in humans and other animals.
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Fritsch VN, Loi VV, Busche T, Tung QN, Lill R, Horvatek P, Wolz C, Kalinowski J, Antelmann H. The alarmone (p)ppGpp confers tolerance to oxidative stress during the stationary phase by maintenance of redox and iron homeostasis in Staphylococcus aureus. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 161:351-364. [PMID: 33144262 PMCID: PMC7754856 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.10.322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Slow growing stationary phase bacteria are often tolerant to multiple stressors and antimicrobials. Here, we show that the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus develops a non-specific tolerance towards oxidative stress during the stationary phase, which is mediated by the nucleotide second messenger (p)ppGpp. The (p)ppGpp0 mutant was highly susceptible to HOCl stress during the stationary phase. Transcriptome analysis of the (p)ppGpp0 mutant revealed an increased expression of the PerR, SigB, QsrR, CtsR and HrcA regulons during the stationary phase, indicating an oxidative stress response. The (p)ppGpp0 mutant showed a slight oxidative shift in the bacillithiol (BSH) redox potential (EBSH) and an impaired H2O2 detoxification due to higher endogenous ROS levels. The increased ROS levels in the (p)ppGpp0 mutant were shown to be caused by higher respiratory chain activity and elevated total and free iron levels. Consistent with these results, N-acetyl cysteine and the iron-chelator dipyridyl improved the growth and survival of the (p)ppGpp0 mutant under oxidative stress. Elevated free iron levels caused 8 to 31-fold increased transcription of Fe-storage proteins ferritin (ftnA) and miniferritin (dps) in the (p)ppGpp0 mutant, while Fur-regulated uptake systems for iron, heme or siderophores (efeOBU, isdABCDEFG, sirABC and sstADBCD) were repressed. Finally, the susceptibility of the (p)ppGpp0 mutant towards the bactericidal action of the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and tetracycline was abrogated with N-acetyl cysteine and dipyridyl. Taken together, (p)ppGpp confers tolerance to ROS and antibiotics by down-regulation of respiratory chain activity and free iron levels, lowering ROS formation to ensure redox homeostasis in S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Nadin Fritsch
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology-Microbiology, D-14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vu Van Loi
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology-Microbiology, D-14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Busche
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology-Microbiology, D-14195, Berlin, Germany; Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, D-33594, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Quach Ngoc Tung
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology-Microbiology, D-14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roland Lill
- Institute of Cytobiology, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35037, Marburg, Germany; Research Center for Synthetic Microbiology SynMikro, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Petra Horvatek
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christiane Wolz
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jörn Kalinowski
- Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, D-33594, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Haike Antelmann
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology-Microbiology, D-14195, Berlin, Germany.
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Abstract
Many bacterial pathogens can permanently colonize their host and establish either chronic or recurrent infections that the immune system and antimicrobial therapies fail to eradicate. Antibiotic persisters (persister cells) are believed to be among the factors that make these infections challenging. Persisters are subpopulations of bacteria which survive treatment with bactericidal antibiotics in otherwise antibiotic-sensitive cultures and were extensively studied in a hope to discover the mechanisms that cause treatment failures in chronically infected patients; however, most of these studies were conducted in the test tube. Research into antibiotic persistence has uncovered large intrapopulation heterogeneity of bacterial growth and regrowth but has not identified essential, dedicated molecular mechanisms of antibiotic persistence. Diverse factors and stresses that inhibit bacterial growth reduce killing of the bulk population and may also increase the persister subpopulation, implying that an array of mechanisms are present. Hopefully, further studies under conditions that simulate the key aspects of persistent infections will lead to identifying target mechanisms for effective therapeutic solutions.
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Ranganathan N, Johnson R, Edwards AM. The general stress response of Staphylococcus aureus promotes tolerance of antibiotics and survival in whole human blood. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2020; 166:1088-1094. [PMID: 33095698 PMCID: PMC7723259 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of invasive human infections such as bacteraemia and infective endocarditis. These infections frequently relapse or become chronic, suggesting that the pathogen has mechanisms to tolerate the twin threats of therapeutic antibiotics and host immunity. The general stress response of S. aureus is regulated by the alternative sigma factor B (σB) and provides protection from multiple stresses including oxidative, acidic and heat. σB also contributes to virulence, intracellular persistence and chronic infection. However, the protective effect of σB on bacterial survival during exposure to antibiotics or host immune defences is poorly characterized. We found that σB promotes the survival of S. aureus exposed to the antibiotics gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin and daptomycin, but not oxacillin or clindamycin. We also found that σB promoted staphylococcal survival in whole human blood, most likely via its contribution to oxidative stress resistance. Therefore, we conclude that the general stress response of S. aureus may contribute to the development of chronic infection by conferring tolerance to both antibiotics and host immune defences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Ranganathan
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, Armstrong Rd, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- Present address: Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham, Palace Road, W6 8RF, UK
| | - Rebecca Johnson
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, Armstrong Rd, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- Present address: Horizon Discovery, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9TL, UK
| | - Andrew M. Edwards
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, Armstrong Rd, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
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Silva E, Monteiro R, Grainha T, Alves D, Pereira MO, Sousa AM. Fostering Innovation in the Treatment of Chronic Polymicrobial Cystic Fibrosis-Associated Infections Exploring Aspartic Acid and Succinic Acid as Ciprofloxacin Adjuvants. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:441. [PMID: 32974221 PMCID: PMC7481398 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) disease provokes the accumulation of thick and viscous sputum in the lungs, favoring the development of chronic and polymicrobial infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the main bacterium responsible for these chronic infections, and much of the difficulty involved in eradicating it is due to biofilm formation. However, this could be mitigated using adjuvant compounds that help or potentiate the antibiotic action. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to search for substances that function as adjuvants and also as biofilm-controlling compounds, preventing or dismantling P. aeruginosa biofilms formed in an in vitro CF airway environment. Dual combinations of compounds with subinhibitory (1 and 2 mg/L) and inhibitory concentrations (4 mg/L) of ciprofloxacin were tested to inhibit the bacterial growth and biofilm formation (prophylactic approach) and to eradicate 24-h-old P. aeruginosa populations, including planktonic cells and biofilms (treatment approach). Our results revealed that aspartic acid (Asp) and succinic acid (Suc) restored ciprofloxacin action against P. aeruginosa. Suc combined with 2 mg/L of ciprofloxacin (Suc-Cip) was able to eradicate bacteria, and Asp combined with 4 mg/L of ciprofloxacin (Asp–Cip) seemed to eradicate the whole 24-h-old populations, including planktonic cells and biofilms. Based on biomass depletion data, we noted that Asp induced cell death and Suc seemed somehow to block or reduce the expression of ciprofloxacin resistance. As far as we know, this kind of action had not been reported up till now. The presence of Staphylococcus aureus and Burkholderia cenocepacia did not affect the efficacy of the Asp–Cip and Suc–Cip therapies against P. aeruginosa and, also important, P. aeruginosa depletion from polymicrobial communities did not create a window of opportunity for these species to thrive. Rather the contrary, Asp and Suc also improved ciprofloxacin action against B. cenocepacia. Further studies on the cytotoxicity using lung epithelial cells indicated toxicity of Suc–Cip caused by the Suc. In conclusion, we provided evidences that Asp and Suc could be potential ciprofloxacin adjuvants to eradicate P. aeruginosa living within polymicrobial communities. Asp–Cip and Suc–Cip could be promising therapeutic options to cope with CF treatment failures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduarda Silva
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Rosana Monteiro
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Tânia Grainha
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Diana Alves
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Maria Olivia Pereira
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Margarida Sousa
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
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Salcedo-Sora JE, Kell DB. A Quantitative Survey of Bacterial Persistence in the Presence of Antibiotics: Towards Antipersister Antimicrobial Discovery. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:E508. [PMID: 32823501 PMCID: PMC7460088 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9080508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Bacterial persistence to antibiotics relates to the phenotypic ability to survive lethal concentrations of otherwise bactericidal antibiotics. The quantitative nature of the time-kill assay, which is the sector's standard for the study of antibiotic bacterial persistence, is an invaluable asset for global, unbiased, and cross-species analyses. Methods: We compiled the results of antibiotic persistence from antibiotic-sensitive bacteria during planktonic growth. The data were extracted from a sample of 187 publications over the last 50 years. The antibiotics used in this compilation were also compared in terms of structural similarity to fluorescent molecules known to accumulate in Escherichia coli. Results: We reviewed in detail data from 54 antibiotics and 36 bacterial species. Persistence varies widely as a function of the type of antibiotic (membrane-active antibiotics admit the fewest), the nature of the growth phase and medium (persistence is less common in exponential phase and rich media), and the Gram staining of the target organism (persistence is more common in Gram positives). Some antibiotics bear strong structural similarity to fluorophores known to be taken up by E. coli, potentially allowing competitive assays. Some antibiotics also, paradoxically, seem to allow more persisters at higher antibiotic concentrations. Conclusions: We consolidated an actionable knowledge base to support a rational development of antipersister antimicrobials. Persistence is seen as a step on the pathway to antimicrobial resistance, and we found no organisms that failed to exhibit it. Novel antibiotics need to have antipersister activity. Discovery strategies should include persister-specific approaches that could find antibiotics that preferably target the membrane structure and permeability of slow-growing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Enrique Salcedo-Sora
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK;
| | - Douglas B. Kell
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK;
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Building 220, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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12
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Gollan B, Grabe G, Michaux C, Helaine S. Bacterial Persisters and Infection: Past, Present, and Progressing. Annu Rev Microbiol 2020; 73:359-385. [PMID: 31500532 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-020518-115650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Persisters are nongrowing, transiently antibiotic-tolerant bacteria within a clonal population of otherwise susceptible cells. Their formation is triggered by environmental cues and involves the main bacterial stress response pathways that allow persisters to survive many harsh conditions, including antibiotic exposure. During infection, bacterial pathogens are exposed to a vast array of stresses in the host and form nongrowing persisters that survive both antibiotics and host immune responses, thereby most likely contributing to the relapse of many infections. While antibiotic persisters have been extensively studied over the last decade, the bulk of the work has focused on how these bacteria survive exposure to drugs in vitro. The ability of persisters to survive their interaction with a host is important yet underinvestigated. In order to tackle the problem of persistence of infections that contribute to the worldwide antibiotic resistance crisis, efforts should be made by scientific communities to understand and merge these two fields of research: antibiotic persisters and host-pathogen interactions. Here we give an overview of the history of the field of antibiotic persistence, report evidence for the importance of persisters in infection, and highlight studies that bridge the two areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget Gollan
- Section of Microbiology, Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; , , ,
| | - Grzegorz Grabe
- Section of Microbiology, Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; , , ,
| | - Charlotte Michaux
- Section of Microbiology, Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; , , ,
| | - Sophie Helaine
- Section of Microbiology, Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; , , ,
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Kotková H, Cabrnochová M, Lichá I, Tkadlec J, Fila L, Bartošová J, Melter O. Evaluation of TD test for analysis of persistence or tolerance in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. J Microbiol Methods 2019; 167:105705. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2019.105705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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