http://aac.asm.org/content/early/2015/07/21/AAC.00883-15.abstract

Persister Development by B. burgdorferi Populations In Vitro

1. John R. Caskey and 
2. Monica E. Embers*

+ Author Affiliations

1. Division of Bacteriology & Parasitology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, Covington, LA

ABSTRACT

Doxycycline is a commonly used antibiotic to treat Lyme disease and other bacterial infections. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) for Borrelia burgdorferi have been investigated by different groups, but are experimentally established here as a function of input cell density. We demonstrate that B. burgdorferi treated in the stationary phase have a higher probability of regrowth following removal of antibiotic. In addition, we determine experimentally and mathematically that the spirochetes which persist post-treatment do not have a longer lag phase, but exhibit a slower growth rate than untreated spirochetes. Finally, we demonstrate that treating the spirochetes by pulse-dosing was not found to eliminate growth or reduce the persister population in vitro. From these data, we propose that B. burgdorferi persister development is stochastic and driven by slowed growth.

FOOTNOTES

• ↵*corresponding author: 18703 Three Rivers Rd., Covington, LA 70433, Phone: (985) 871-6607, Email: members@tulane