487: Probiotic Pulverizes Pathogen Persisters

This episode: A probiotic strain of E. coli can target and
destroy pathogens that survive a treatment of antibiotics!


Download Episode (8.2 MB, 12 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Streptomyces griseoruber


 


Takeaways


Antibiotic resistance is becoming more and more of a problem as
bacterial pathogens develop resistance to more and more drugs.
For some people who develop an infection that is resistant to
everything, it's as if they were living back in the days before
antibiotics were discovered, when all they could do was pray for
survival. New antibiotics are needed, but even more needed are
new ways of approaching treatment of infections, using innovative
approaches and combinations of therapeutics.

In this study, a probiotic strain of Escherichia coli was used to
target potentially pathogenic E. coli bacteria that can survive
treatment with a particularly effective type of antibiotic,
fluoroquinolones. This probiotic strain, called Nissle, delivers
toxins directly to the survivors, preventing resistant pathogens
from proliferating.



 


Journal Paper:
Hare PJ, Englander HE, Mok WWK. 2022. Probiotic Escherichia coli
Nissle 1917 inhibits bacterial persisters that survive
fluoroquinolone treatment. J Appl Microbiol 132:4020–4032.


 


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