Many disease-causing bacteria are notorious for their rapid growth, quickly multiplying and causing illness. However, equally concerning is their ability to enter a resting state, evading antibiotics and leading to chronic infections. This dormant phase occurs in various parts of the body, including the lungs, blood, wounds, and medical devices.
According to Lisa Racki, an assistant professor at Scripps Research, traditional antibiotics target bacterial growth, but bacteria spend a significant amount of time not growing. Therefore, innovative strategies are needed to address bacteria’s slow-growing and non-growing phases.
Scientists have observed that bacteria can survive for extended periods in a dormant state, conserving energy. They produce polyP strands during this phase, forming clumps inside their cells. The purpose of polyP has been a mystery until now.
Racki and her team focused on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria responsible for pneumonia and blood infections in hospitalized individuals with weakened immune systems. This bacterium’s ability to form biofilms, communities of bacteria in a resting state, makes it challenging to treat with conventional antibiotics.
When P. aeruginosa lacks nitrogen, a vital nutrient for growth, it produces large amounts of polyP. Through their research, Racki and her colleagues discovered that a mutant unable to produce polyP cannot enter the resting state. By genetically modifying P. aeruginosa to track molecular movements, they gained insights into why this occurs and its implications.
2024-04-12 00:51:03
Link from phys.org