hypoxia research::blog

いちおうabstract
A fraction of a genetically homogeneous microbial population may survive exposure to stress such as antibiotic treatment. Unlike resistant mutants, cells re-grown from such persistent bacteria remain sensitive to the antibiotic. We investigated the persistence of single cells of Escherichia coli using microfluidic devices. Persistence was linked to pre-existing heterogeneity in bacterial populations as phenotypic switching occurred between normally growing cells and persister cells having reduced growth rates. Quantitative measurements led to a simple mathematical description of the persistence switch. Inherent heterogeneity of bacterial populations may be important in adaptation to fluctuating environments, and in the persistence of bacterial infections.