title: Heterogeneous bacterial persisters and engineering approaches to eliminate them.
abstract: Bacterial persistence is a state in which a subpopulation of cells (persisters) survives antibiotic treatment, and has been implicated in the tolerance of clinical infections and the recalcitrance of biofilms. There has been a renewed interest in the role of bacterial persisters in treatment failure in light of a wealth of recent findings. Here we review recent laboratory studies of bacterial persistence. Further, we pose the hypothesis that each bacterial population may contain a diverse collection of persisters and discuss engineering strategies for persister eradication.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for BioDynamics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Kyle R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Brynildsen
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents