How gut bacteria become ‘persisters’ to avoid antibiotics

Credit: UT Southwestern

UTSW researchers found that E. coli bacteria with intact wbaP genes (yellow cells) face survival challenges in the gut lumen when exposed to high doses of cefepime antibiotics. Conversely, mutation of wbaP (blue cells) enhances their capacity to invade intestinal cells, allowing bacteria to evade the toxic effects of high cefepime doses, since the concentration of cefepime in intestinal cells is 20 times lower and at nontoxic levels for the bacteria. (Image created with BioRender.com)

« How gut bacteria become ‘persisters’ to avoid antibiotics

Credit: UT Southwestern

Andrew Koh, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology at UT Southwestern, is a member of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.

« How gut bacteria become ‘persisters’ to avoid antibiotics

Credit: UT Southwestern

Erdal Toprak, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pharmacology and in the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics at UT Southwestern, is a member of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and a Southwestern Medical Foundation Scholar in Biomedical Research.

« How gut bacteria become ‘persisters’ to avoid antibiotics

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