Heterogeneous absorption of antimicrobial peptide LL37 in Escherichia coli cells enhances population survivability.

ABSTRACT: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are broad spectrum antibiotics that selectively target bacteria. Here we investigate the activity of human AMP LL37 against Escherichia coli by integrating quantitative, population and single-cell level experiments with theoretical modeling. We observe an unexpected, rapid absorption and retention of a large number of LL37 peptides by E. coli cells upon the inhibition of their growth, which increases population survivability. This transition occurs more likely in the late stage of cell division cycles. Cultures with high cell density exhibit two distinct subpopulations: a non-growing population that absorb peptides and a growing population that survive owing to the sequestration of the AMPs by others. A mathematical model based on this binary pic

SUBMITTER: Snoussi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6298785 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature