Bacterial persister regrowth

Project Information

RESUSCITATION

Grant agreement ID: 757369

DOI

10.3030/757369

Project terminated on 18 October 2019

EC signature date 5 October 2017

Start date 1 February 2018

End date 31 January 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 1 499 996,00

EU contribution

€ 1 499 996,00

Coordinated by

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RESUSCITATION (Bacterial persister regrowth)

Reporting period: 2019-08-01 to 2021-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Bacterial persisters are responsible for lack of clearance by antibiotic courses, leading to relapses of infection and recurrent treatments needed. We investigate how bacterial persisters resume growth and how toxins important for bacterial growth control lead to bacterial growth arrest, and how their activity can be reversed.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

We have deciphered the mode of action of three toxins, identified the specific target that they corrupt leading to bacterial self-intoxication. We have also deciphered fully how natural antitoxins neutralise the toxins, and can now mimic synthetically the naturalisation activity of the antitoxins.
We are investigating the ATP levels of persisters and the requirements of energy needed to allow dormant bacteria to resume growth (and lead to infection relapse).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

We aim to provide a complete picture of what support and allow persister resuscitation as well as intervention startegies to prevent infection relapses.

Structures of three TacTs of Salmonella