Center for Biofilm Engineering

Abstract:  

"Senescence can explain microbial persistence" 

It has been known for many years that small fractions of persister cells resist killing in many
bacterial colony–antimicrobial confrontations. These persisters are not believed to be mutants.
Rather it has been hypothesized that they are phenotypic variants. Current models allow cells
to switch in and out of the persister phenotype. Here, a different explanation is suggested for
persistence, namely senescence. Using a mathematical model including age structure, it is
shown that senescence provides a natural explanation for persistence-related phenomena,
including the observations that the persister fraction depends on growth phase in batch culture
and dilution rate in continuous culture.

Klapper I, Gilbert P, Ayati BP, Dockery J, Stewart PS "Senescence can explain microbial persistence," Microbiology 2007; 153(11):3623–3630 (2007) Abstract 07-022