A broadly applicable, stress-mediated bacterial death pathway regulated by the phosphotransferase system (PTS) and the cAMP-Crp cascade.

ABSTRACT: Recent work indicates that killing of bacteria by diverse antimicrobial classes can involve reactive oxygen species (ROS), as if a common, self-destructive response to antibiotics occurs. However, the ROS-bacterial death theory has been challenged. To better understand stress-mediated bacterial death, we enriched spontaneous antideath mutants of Escherichia coli that survive treatment by diverse bactericidal agents that include antibiotics, disinfectants, and environmental stressors, without a priori consideration of ROS. The mutants retained bacteriostatic susceptibility, thereby ruling out resistance. Surprisingly, pan-tolerance arose from carbohydrate metabolism deficiencies in ptsI (phosphotransferase) and cyaA (adenyl cyclase); these genes displayed the activity of upstream regulators

SUBMITTER: Zeng J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9191683 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature