Characteristics of persister cells and the diversity of type II toxin -antitoxin system in Acinetobacter baumannii

Abstract:

Abstract:［Objective］ To study the biological features of the Acinetobacter baumannii persisters and the correlation between Type II toxin-antitoxin systems (TAs) and the persisters.［Methods］Different antibiotics were used to isolate the persisters; BLAST programs were adopted to analyze candidate TAs; PCR was used to detect the distribution of TAs.［Results］The number of persisters was different when treated by different antibiotics. For most antibiotics，the higher the concentration used，the lower the persister number was obtained. Persister numbers in exponential phase populations were lower than that in stationary phase. Polymyxin B and tobramycin could kill persisters.［Conclusion］The persistence level of A. baumannii is related to the growth state of the strains，the class and concentration of antibiotics.