Persister cells, dormancy and infectious disease

Nat Rev Microbiol. 2007 Jan;5(1):48-56. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro1557. Epub 2006 Dec 4.

Abstract

Several well-recognized puzzles in microbiology have remained unsolved for decades. These include latent bacterial infections, unculturable microorganisms, persister cells and biofilm multidrug tolerance. Accumulating evidence suggests that these seemingly disparate phenomena result from the ability of bacteria to enter into a dormant (non-dividing) state. The molecular mechanisms that underlie the formation of dormant persister cells are now being unravelled and are the focus of this Review.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • Bacterial Physiological Phenomena*
  • Biofilms
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  • Drug Tolerance
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Microbial Viability*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents