Antibiotic persistence: The power of being a diploid

Dorien Wilmaerts; Jan Michiels

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.072

Antibiotic persistence: The power of being a diploid

Curr Biol. 2021 May 24;31(10):R493-R495. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.072.

Authors

Dorien Wilmaerts¹, Jan Michiels²

Affiliations

¹ Center for Microbiology, VIB, Leuven 3001, Belgium; Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium.
² Center for Microbiology, VIB, Leuven 3001, Belgium; Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium. Electronic address: jan.michiels@kuleuven.be.

PMID: 34033776
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.072

Abstract

In a new paper in this issue, Murawski and Brynildsen define chromosomal ploidy as an important characteristic for persistence following fluoroquinolone treatment. Bacteria carrying two chromosomes are more likely to repair DNA damage through homologous recombination compared with cells containing a single chromosome.

Publication types

Comment

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
DNA Damage
Diploidy*
Homologous Recombination
Ploidies

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents