Heterogeneous bacterial persisters and engineering approaches to eliminate them

Bacterial persistence is a state in which a subpopulation of cells (persisters) survives antibiotic treatment, and has been implicated in the tolerance of clinical infections and the recalcitrance of biofilms. There has been a renewed interest in the role of bacterial persisters in treatment failure in light of a wealth of recent findings. Here we review recent laboratory studies of bacterial persistence. Further, we pose the hypothesis that each bacterial population may contain a diverse collection of persisters and discuss engineering strategies for persister eradication.

► Review of current laboratory research on persisters, including the roles of growth heterogeneity, stationary phase, and the SOS-response.
► History and phenotypes associated with hipA.
► Hypothesis that each bacterial population contains many different persisters with different tolerance mechanisms.
► Engineering strategies for eradicating bacterial persisters.