| Persister cells mediate tolerance to metal oxyanions in Escherichia coli. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 16207903 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Bacterial cultures produce subpopulations of cells termed 'persisters', reputedly known for high tolerance to killing by antibiotics. Ecologically, antibiotics produced by competing microflora are only one potential stress encountered by bacteria. Another pressure in the environment is toxic metals that are distributed ubiquitously by human pollution, volcanic activity and the weathering of minerals. This study evaluated the time- and concentration-dependent killing of Escherichia coli planktonic and biofilm cultures by the water-soluble metal(loid) oxyanions chromate (CrO4(2-)), arsenate (AsO4(2-)), arsenite (AsO2-), selenite (SeO3(2-)), tellurate (TeO4(2-)) and tellurite (TeO3(2-)). Correlative to previous reports in the literature, control antibiotic assays indicated that a small proportion of E. coli biofilm populations remained recalcitrant to killing by antibiotics (even with 24 h exposure). In contrast, metal oxyanions presented a slow, bactericidal action that eradicated biofilms. When exposed for 2 h, biofilms were up to 310 times more tolerant to killing by metal oxyanions than corresponding planktonic cultures. However, by 24 h, planktonic cells and biofilms were eradicated at approximately the same concentration in all instances. Coloured complexes of metals and chelators could not be generated in biofilms exposed to CrO4(2-) or TeO3(2-), suggesting that the extracellular polymeric matrix of E. coli may have a low binding affinity for metal oxyanions. Viable cell counts at 2 and 24 h exposure revealed that, at high concentrations, all of the metal oxyanions had killed 99 % (or a greater proportion) of the bacterial cells in biofilm populations. It is suggested here that the short-term survival of <1 % of the bacterial population corresponds well with the hypothesis that a small population of persister cells may be responsible for the time-dependent tolerance of E. coli biofilms to high concentrations of metal oxyanions. |
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Authors:
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Joe J Harrison; Howard Ceri; Nicole J Roper; Erin A Badry; Kimberley M Sproule; Raymond J Turner |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Microbiology (Reading, England) Volume: 151 ISSN: 1350-0872 ISO Abbreviation: Microbiology (Reading, Engl.) Publication Date: 2005 Oct |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2005-10-06 Completed Date: 2005-11-29 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9430468 Medline TA: Microbiology Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 3181-95 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Anions
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pharmacology* Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology Biofilms / drug effects, growth & development Colony Count, Microbial Culture Media Drug Resistance, Bacterial* Escherichia coli / cytology*, drug effects*, genetics, growth & development Metals / pharmacology* Microbial Sensitivity Tests Plankton / drug effects, growth & development Time Factors |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Anions; 0/Anti-Bacterial Agents; 0/Culture Media; 0/Metals |
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