Phenotypic heterogeneity: a bacterial virulence strategy

Growing knowledge of the complexity of the host-pathogen interactions during the course of an infection revealed an amazing variability of bacterial pathogens within the same host tissue site. This heterogeneity in bacterial populations is either the result of a different bacterial response to a sli...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microbes and infection 2018-10, Vol.20 (9-10), p.570-577
Main Authors: Weigel, W.A., Dersch, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bet-hedging
Division and labor
Pathogenicity
Phenotypic heterogeneity
Virulence
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Summary:Growing knowledge of the complexity of the host-pathogen interactions during the course of an infection revealed an amazing variability of bacterial pathogens within the same host tissue site. This heterogeneity in bacterial populations is either the result of a different bacterial response to a slightly divergent tissue microenvironment or is caused by a genetic circuit in which small endogenous fluctuations in a small number of transcription factors drive gene expression in combination with a positive feedback loop. As a result host-pathogen encounters can have different outcomes in individual cells, which enables bet-hedging and/or a co-operative behavior that enhance bacterial fitness and virulence, drive different host responses and promote resistance of small subpopulations to antibiotic treatment. This has a strong impact on the progression and control of the infection, which must be considered for the development of successful antimicrobial therapies.
ISSN:1286-4579
1769-714X
DOI:10.1016/j.micinf.2018.01.008