What is the term for slow-growing cells within a biofilm that contribute to antibiotic tolerance?

What is the term for slow-growing cells within a biofilm that contribute to antibiotic tolerance?

• A. Persister cells
• B. Quorum sensing units
• C. Virions
• D. Dormant spores

Answer: (A)

In biofilms, a small fraction of cells can enter a dormant, slow-growing state where metabolic activity is minimal. This makes them tolerant to antibiotics that mainly target active growth processes. These cells act as a transient, phenotypic population known as persister cells. They aren’t genetically resistant; their tolerance is reversible—once the antibiotic is removed, they can wake up and repopulate the biofilm, potentially leading to relapse. This behavior is distinct from dormant spores, which are highly resistant structures formed by some bacteria and require specific signals to germinate, and from virions or quorum-sensing units, which are not related to antibiotic tolerance in this context. The term persister cells best describes slow-growing, antibiotic-tolerant cells within biofilms.

In biofilms, a small fraction of cells can enter a dormant, slow-growing state where metabolic activity is minimal. This makes them tolerant to antibiotics that mainly target active growth processes. These cells act as a transient, phenotypic population known as persister cells. They aren’t genetically resistant; their tolerance is reversible—once the antibiotic is removed, they can wake up and repopulate the biofilm, potentially leading to relapse. This behavior is distinct from dormant spores, which are highly resistant structures formed by some bacteria and require specific signals to germinate, and from virions or quorum-sensing units, which are not related to antibiotic tolerance in this context. The term persister cells best describes slow-growing, antibiotic-tolerant cells within biofilms.