Bacteria often resist killing by normally bactericidal antibiotics, resulting in clinical treatment failure and the development of antibiotic resistance. The ability to survive damage elicited by exposure to antibiotics is termed tolerance. Tolerance is likely responsible for the recurrence of infections after discontinuation of antimicrobial therapy, and provides a reservoir of a bacterial population that can develop full scale resistance. An extreme case of tolerance is the formation of persister cells, which do not experience antibiotic-induced damage due to dormancy. However, we and others have found that many Gram-negative pathogens (Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Haemophilus influenzae and Acinetobacter baumannii) are fully susceptible to damage induced by cell wall acting antibiotics (beta lactams), but yet survive at very high levels. Survival is enabled through the formation of viable spheres that are devoid of detectable cell wall material and that recover to normal shape upon withdrawal of the antibiotic. In our model organism, the cholera pathogen V. cholerae, tolerance is promoted by cell envelope stress responses, especially the two-component system WigKR. WigKR is induced by cell wall acting antibiotics and mounts a complex response that ultimately enables recovery from the spherical state. This response includes upregulation of cell wall synthesis functions, outer membrane synthesis, phospholipid synthesis and downregulation of motility and iron acquisition genes. How this response promotes tolerance is poorly understood, and so are the mechanisms of tolerance in other Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we aim to interrogate V. cholerae's cell envelope stress responses and their relationship with beta lactam tolerance and post-antibiotic recovery. Using genetic and biochemical approaches, we will find the elusive induction signal sensed by the histidine kinase WigK. Leveraging extensive datasets comprehensively describing the WigKR regulon, we will measure each individual regulon member's contribution to beta lactam tolerance. Lastly, we will apply what we have learned in the V. cholerae model to other Gram-negative pathogens exhibiting high beta lactam tolerance, specifically E. cloacae and P. aeruginosa. Our experiments will yield novel insight into the mechanisms of antibiotic tolerance and result in the identification of candidate drug targets for anti-tolerance adjuvants of beta lactams.

Public Health Relevance

Many harmful bacteria survive exposure to antibiotics that are designed to kill them; these ?tolerant? bacteria can repopulate an infection after antibiotic therapy ends and develop antibiotic resistance. The mechanisms of tolerance are poorly understood, but our preliminary data suggest that some bacteria can efficiently repair damage induced by antibiotics, promoting survival. Here, we propose experiments that will enable us to understand the mechanisms of tolerance in harmful bacteria, with the aim of designing new antibiotics that enhance antibacterial therapy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI143704-03
Application #
10078589
Study Section
Drug Discovery and Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance Study Section (DDR)
Program Officer
Hall, Robert H
Project Start
2019-01-10
Project End
2023-12-31
Budget Start
2021-01-01
Budget End
2021-12-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2021
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Cornell University
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
872612445
City
Ithaca
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14850