講演情報
[11a-PA1-1]Mechanical properties of bacterial persistence
〇(D)Inez Hermann1, Masanori Toyofuku2, Kaori Sugihara1 (1.Univ. of Tokyo, 2.Univ. of Tsukuba)
キーワード：
biophysics、atomic force microscopy、persistent bacteria
Over the last century, excessive antibiotic use has contributed to the emergence of resistant, tolerant, and persistent bacteria. Persistent bacteria escape detection during standard drug susceptibility testing (DST) leading to clinical treatment failure and chronic infections. Consequently, new methodologies are urgently needed to diagnose and treat these infections. The precise triggers inducing the switch into a persistent state remain unclear, particularly the potential influence of mechanical stress from host immune cells, surfaces, or biofilms. To overcome this challenge, we explore the molecular and mechanical parameters (e.g., stiffness, membrane rupture force) underlying persistence in Bacillus subtilis wt 168 and Escherichia coli ATCC 47076. Using atomic force microscopy, we test whether mechanical stimuli can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and whether ROS-induced DNA damage triggers persistence. We anticipate that this approach will successfully demonstrate ROS generation and DNA damage in persistent cells compared to susceptible cells. Furthermore, we expect these mechanical parameters to successfully differentiate persisters from susceptible bacteria. Ultimately, these findings will provide a biophysical characterization that contributes to the development of accurate diagnostic tools and novel therapeutics.