Loss of phenotypic inheritance associated with <i>ydcI</i> mutation leads to increased frequency of small, slow persisters in <i>Escherichia coli</i>.

ABSTRACT: Whenever a genetically homogenous population of bacterial cells is exposed to antibiotics, a tiny fraction of cells survives the treatment, the phenomenon known as bacterial persistence [G.L. Hobby et al., Exp. Biol. Med. 50, 281-285 (1942); J. Bigger, The Lancet 244, 497-500 (1944)]. Despite its biomedical relevance, the origin of the phenomenon is still unknown, and as a rare, phenotypically resistant subpopulation, persisters are notoriously hard to study and define. Using computerized tracking we show that persisters are small at birth and slowly replicating. We also determine that the high-persister mutant strain of Escherichia coli, HipQ, is associated with the phenotype of reduced phenotypic inheritance (RPI). We identify the gene responsible for R

SUBMITTER: Hingley-Wilson SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7049120 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature