A Review on the Biology, Mechanisms, and Pathways of Treating Bacterial Persisters: What Medications Defeat Them?

A genetically-identical bacterial population is phenotypically heterogeneous, with phenotypic variants arising due to fluctuations in gene expression. Persister formation may be induced by environmental factors/stress such as antibiotic treatment, signalling molecule indole, quorum sensing molecules, nutrient starvation, oxidative stress, heat stress, hyperosmotic stress, and acid stress. Since persisters are clinically relevant, it is important to study the mechanisms responsible for persister formation so that therapies can be designed to curtail these infections.