How Mycobacteria Survive Stress
Author Information
Author(s): Sureka Kamakshi, Ghosh Bhaswar, Dasgupta Arunava, Basu Joyoti, Kundu Manikuntala, Bose Indrani
Primary Institution: Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
Hypothesis
Positive feedback and stochastic gene expression likely play a role in the development of persistence in mycobacteria.
Conclusion
The study provides evidence that bistability and stochastic gene expression contribute to phenotypic heterogeneity in mycobacteria, which may help them survive under stress.
Supporting Evidence
- The distribution of rel expression levels in a growing population of mycobacteria is bimodal.
- A positive feedback loop involving the mprAB operon and stochastic gene expression drives phenotypic heterogeneity.
- Noise-driven transitions take a subpopulation of cells from the low to the high expression state.
- Hysteresis in rel expression promotes robustness in the maintenance of the induced state.
- The study suggests strategies for tackling tuberculosis by targeting transitions from low to high rel expression.
Takeaway
Some bacteria can change how they act when things get tough, and this study shows how they can switch between different states to survive.
Methodology
The study combined single-cell analysis by flow cytometry with theoretical modeling to investigate the dynamics of rel expression in mycobacteria.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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