How do environment-dependent switching rates between susceptible and persister cells affect the dynamics of biofilms faced with antibiotics?

ABSTRACT: Persisters form sub-populations of stress-tolerant cells that play a major role in the capacity of biofilms to survive and recover from disturbances such as antibiotic treatments. The mechanisms of persistence are diverse and influenced by environmental conditions, and persister populations are more heterogeneous than formerly suspected. We used computational modeling to assess the impact of three switching strategies between susceptible and persister cells on the capacity of bacterial biofilms to grow, survive and recover from antibiotic treatments. The strategies tested were: (1) constant switches, (2) substrate-dependent switches and (3) antibiotic-dependent switches. We implemented these strategies in an individual-based biofilm model and simulated antibiotic shocks on virtual biofilms

SUBMITTER: Carvalho G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5854711 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature