Multiresistent bacteria display behavior akin to hibernation

Multiresistant bacteria render treatments ineffective and scientists worldwide are trying to tackle this issue. Often even sensitive bacteria display resistance to drugs and are therefore called “persister cells.” Researchers at the BASP Centre, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen discovered how these bacteria survive antibiotic treatments and cause infections. According to them, persister cells go into a physiological state called persistence, which is similar to the state of hibernation in animals. The bacteria can be in this stage till the time the antibiotics are at work and can resuscitate and cause relapsing infections. A regulatory compound called “magic spot” helps the bacteria become persistent. The researchers believe that this discovery can help in developing drugs and treatment methods that would tackle the persister cells.

Read more in Science Daily.