Reprogramming by persisters

Bacterial persisters, which are a subpopulation of transiently antibiotic-tolerant bacterial cells that are slow-growing or growth-arrested, can cause persistent infections. Under laboratory conditions, persisters seem to become dormant; however, Helaine and colleagues show that in the non-growing, antibiotic-tolerant state, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium actively subverts host cells. During macrophage infection, S. Typhimurium antibiotic persisters retain transcriptional, translational and metabolic activity. Moreover, non-growing S. Typhimurium translocates Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2) type III secretion system effectors into the macrophage to reprogramme the host cell into a non-inflammatory and infection-permissive state. Thus, the active, non-growing state promotes survival during antibiotic exposure, persistent infections and long-term survival.