Principles of bacteriostatic and bactericidal antibiotics at subinhibitory concentrations.

ABSTRACT: Subinhibitory antibiotic exposures are common in clinical and environmental contexts, yet their effects on bacterial growth dynamics remain incompletely understood. We studied the temporal response of Escherichia coli to a panel of bactericidal ("cidal") and bacteriostatic ("static") antibiotics at sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MIC). We uncover a sharp dynamical distinction between the two classes. Bacteriostatic antibiotics reduce the initial growth rate in a dose-dependent manner, similar to a nutrient starvation response. In contrast, bactericidal antibiotics do not alter initial growth rates-cells continue to grow as fast as untreated cells-until an abrupt slowdown in growth rate. The onset of the slowdown occurs earlier with increasing concentration, suggesting a d

SUBMITTER: Vaisbourd E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12607625 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature