New Strategies to Kill Metabolically-Dormant Cells Directly Bypassing the Need for Active Cellular Processes
Antibiotic therapy failure is often caused by the presence of persister cells, which are metabolically-dormant bacteria capable of surviving exposure to antimicrobials. Under favorable conditions, persisters can resume growth leading to recurrent infections. Moreover, several studies have indicated...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Antibiotics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/6/1044 |
| _version_ | 1797596405246722048 |
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| author | Karolina Stojowska-Swędrzyńska Dorota Kuczyńska-Wiśnik Ewa Laskowska |
| author_facet | Karolina Stojowska-Swędrzyńska Dorota Kuczyńska-Wiśnik Ewa Laskowska |
| author_sort | Karolina Stojowska-Swędrzyńska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antibiotic therapy failure is often caused by the presence of persister cells, which are metabolically-dormant bacteria capable of surviving exposure to antimicrobials. Under favorable conditions, persisters can resume growth leading to recurrent infections. Moreover, several studies have indicated that persisters may promote the evolution of antimicrobial resistance and facilitate the selection of specific resistant mutants; therefore, in light of the increasing numbers of multidrug-resistant infections worldwide, developing efficient strategies against dormant cells is of paramount importance. In this review, we present and discuss the efficacy of various agents whose antimicrobial activity is independent of the metabolic status of the bacteria as they target cell envelope structures. Since the biofilm-environment is favorable for the formation of dormant subpopulations, anti-persister strategies should also include agents that destroy the biofilm matrix or inhibit biofilm development. This article reviews examples of selected cell wall hydrolases, polysaccharide depolymerases and antimicrobial peptides. Their combination with standard antibiotics seems to be the most promising approach in combating persistent infections. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:50:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a20d35a0edcc4e9f99cd18dec4877f1c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6382 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:50:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibiotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-a20d35a0edcc4e9f99cd18dec4877f1c2023-11-18T09:01:16ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822023-06-01126104410.3390/antibiotics12061044New Strategies to Kill Metabolically-Dormant Cells Directly Bypassing the Need for Active Cellular ProcessesKarolina Stojowska-Swędrzyńska0Dorota Kuczyńska-Wiśnik1Ewa Laskowska2Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, PolandDepartment of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, PolandDepartment of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, PolandAntibiotic therapy failure is often caused by the presence of persister cells, which are metabolically-dormant bacteria capable of surviving exposure to antimicrobials. Under favorable conditions, persisters can resume growth leading to recurrent infections. Moreover, several studies have indicated that persisters may promote the evolution of antimicrobial resistance and facilitate the selection of specific resistant mutants; therefore, in light of the increasing numbers of multidrug-resistant infections worldwide, developing efficient strategies against dormant cells is of paramount importance. In this review, we present and discuss the efficacy of various agents whose antimicrobial activity is independent of the metabolic status of the bacteria as they target cell envelope structures. Since the biofilm-environment is favorable for the formation of dormant subpopulations, anti-persister strategies should also include agents that destroy the biofilm matrix or inhibit biofilm development. This article reviews examples of selected cell wall hydrolases, polysaccharide depolymerases and antimicrobial peptides. Their combination with standard antibiotics seems to be the most promising approach in combating persistent infections.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/6/1044antimicrobial peptidesbiofilmlysinspersister cellsphage-derived peptidoglycan hydrolasespolysaccharide depolymerases |
| spellingShingle | Karolina Stojowska-Swędrzyńska Dorota Kuczyńska-Wiśnik Ewa Laskowska New Strategies to Kill Metabolically-Dormant Cells Directly Bypassing the Need for Active Cellular Processes Antibiotics antimicrobial peptides biofilm lysins persister cells phage-derived peptidoglycan hydrolases polysaccharide depolymerases |
| title | New Strategies to Kill Metabolically-Dormant Cells Directly Bypassing the Need for Active Cellular Processes |
| title_full | New Strategies to Kill Metabolically-Dormant Cells Directly Bypassing the Need for Active Cellular Processes |
| title_fullStr | New Strategies to Kill Metabolically-Dormant Cells Directly Bypassing the Need for Active Cellular Processes |
| title_full_unstemmed | New Strategies to Kill Metabolically-Dormant Cells Directly Bypassing the Need for Active Cellular Processes |
| title_short | New Strategies to Kill Metabolically-Dormant Cells Directly Bypassing the Need for Active Cellular Processes |
| title_sort | new strategies to kill metabolically dormant cells directly bypassing the need for active cellular processes |
| topic | antimicrobial peptides biofilm lysins persister cells phage-derived peptidoglycan hydrolases polysaccharide depolymerases |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/6/1044 |
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