Bacterial Persistence (bacterial + persistence)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Glycolipid receptor depletion as an approach to specific antimicrobial therapy

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 1 2006
Majlis Svensson
Abstract Mucosal pathogens recognize glycoconjugate receptors at the site of infection, and attachment is an essential first step in disease pathogenesis. Inhibition of attachment may prevent disease, and several approaches have been explored. This review discusses the prevention of bacterial attachment and disease by agents that modify the glycosylation of cell surface glycoconjugates. Glycosylation inhibitors were tested in the urinary tract infection model, where P-fimbriated Escherichia coli rely on glycosphingolipid receptors for attachment and tissue attack. N -butyldeoxynojirimycin blocked the expression of glucosylceramide-derived glycosphingolipids and attachment was reduced. Bacterial persistence in the kidneys was impaired and the inflammatory response was abrogated. N -butyldeoxynojirimycin was inactive against strains which failed to engage these receptors, including type 1 fimbriated or nonadhesive strains. In vivo attachment has been successfully prevented by soluble receptor analogues, but there is little clinical experience of such inhibitors. Large-scale synthesis of complex carbohydrates, which could be used as attachment inhibitors, remains a technical challenge. Antibodies to bacterial lectins involved in attachment may be efficient inhibitors, and fimbrial vaccines have been developed. Glycosylation inhibitors have been shown to be safe and efficient in patients with lipid storage disease and might therefore be tested in urinary tract infection. This approach differs from current therapies, including antibiotics, in that it targets the pathogens which recognize these receptors. [source]


New kinase regulation mechanism found in HipBA: a bacterial persistence switch

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 8 2009
Artem Evdokimov
Bacterial persistence is the ability of individual cells to randomly enter a period of dormancy during which the cells are protected against antibiotics. In Escherichia coli, persistence is regulated by the activity of a protein kinase HipA and its DNA-binding partner HipB, which is a strong inhibitor of both HipA activity and hip operon transcription. The crystal structure of the HipBA complex was solved by application of the SAD technique to a mercury derivative. In this article, the fortuitous and interesting effect of mercury soaks on the native HipBA crystals is discussed as well as the intriguing tryptophan-binding pocket found on the HipA surface. A HipA-regulation model is also proposed that is consistent with the available structural and biochemical data. [source]


The role of genome diversity and immune evasion in persistent infection with Helicobacter pylori

FEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2005
Cara L. Cooke
Abstract Helicobacter pylori is an important human pathogen that chronically colonizes the stomach of half the world's population. Infection typically occurs in childhood and persists for decades, if not for the lifetime of the host. How is bacterial persistence possible despite a vigorous innate and adaptive immune response? Here we describe the complex role of bacterial diversity and specific mechanisms to avoid or subvert host immunity in bacterial persistence. We suggest that H. pylori finely modulates the extent to which it interacts with the host in order to promote chronic infection, and that it uses diverse mechanisms to do so. [source]


The importance of being persistent: heterogeneity of bacterial populations under antibiotic stress

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Issue 4 2009
Orit Gefen
Abstract While the DNA sequence is largely responsible for transmitting phenotypic traits over evolutionary time, organisms are also considerably affected by phenotypic variations that persist for more than one generation, with no direct change in the organisms' DNA sequence. In contrast to genetic variation, which is passed on over many generations, the phenotypic variation generated by nongenetic mechanisms is difficult to study due to the inherently limited life time of states that are not encoded in the DNA sequence, but makes it possible for the ,memory' of past environments to influence future organisms. One striking example of phenotypic variation is the phenomenon of bacterial persistence, whereby genetically identical bacterial populations respond heterogeneously to antibiotic treatment. Our aim is to review several experimental and theoretical approaches to the study of persistence. We define persistence as a characteristic of a heterogeneous bacterial population that is taken as a generic example through which we illustrate the approach and study the dynamics of population variability. The clinical and evolutionary implications of persistence are discussed in light of the mathematical description. This approach should be of relevance to the study of other phenomena in which nongenetic variability is involved, such as cellular differentiation or the response of cancer cells to treatment. [source]


Detection and distribution of probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 clones in swine herds in Germany

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
S. Kleta
Abstract Aims:, To verify the presence of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 as a natural isolate in swine and to characterize in vitro probiotic properties as well as in vivo persistence in a feeding experiment. Methods and Results:, During studies on the intestinal microflora of pigs, we isolated E. coli Nissle 1917 sporadically from a pig population over a period of 1 year. The identity of the isolates as E. coli Nissle 1917 was verified by serotyping, Nissle-specific PCR, macrorestriction analysis (pulsed field gel electrophoresis) and the determination of in vitro probiotic properties in invasion and adhesion assays using a porcine intestinal epithelial cell line. Both the E. coli isolates and the E. coli Nissle 1917 strain showed strong reductions in adhesion of porcine enteropathogenic E. coli and invasion of Salmonella typhimurium with epithelial cells in vitro, with a probiotic effect. Screening of five epidemiologically unlinked swine farms and two wild boar groups showed one farm positive for E. coli Nissle 1917. A feeding experiment with four piglets showed viable E. coli Nissle 1917 in the intestine of three animals. Conclusions:, The results of this study suggest that the E. coli Nissle 1917 strain is already partially established in swine herds, but the colonization of individual animals is variable. Significance and Impact of the Study:, We report natural, long-term colonization and transmission of the probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917 strain in a swine herd, characterized individual persistence and colonization properties in swine and established an in vitro porcine intestinal epithelial cell model of probiotic action. The results of this study would have implications in the use of this strain as a probiotic in swine and contribute to a better understanding of the individual nature of intestinal bacterial persistence and establishment. [source]