Chemical Communication of Antibiotic Resistance by a Highly Resistant Subpopulation of Bacterial Cells

摘要: The overall antibiotic resistance of a bacterial population results from the combination wide range susceptibilities displayed by subsets cells. Bacterial heteroresistance to antibiotics has been documented for several opportunistic Gram-negative bacteria, but mechanism is unclear. We use Burkholderia cenocepacia as model bacterium investigate implications heterogeneity in response antimicrobial peptide polymyxin B (PmB) and also other bactericidal antibiotics. Here, we report that B. heteroresistant PmB. Population analysis profiling identified subpopulations arising seemingly homogenous culture are resistant higher levels than rest cells culture, can protect more sensitive killing, well bacteria species, such Pseudomonas aeruginosa Escherichia coli. Communication depended on upregulation putrescine synthesis YceI, widely conserved low-molecular weight secreted protein. Deletion genes YceI abrogate protection, while pharmacologic inhibition reduced Polyamines were required various propose resemble "danger" infochemicals whose increased production subpopulation, becoming antibiotics, communicates level members same or different species.