Molecular physiological characterization of the dynamics of persister formation in Staphylococcus aureus.

Bacteria possess the ability to enter a growth-arrested state known as persistence in order to survive antibiotic exposure. Clinically, persisters are regarded as the main causative agents for chronic and recurrent infectious diseases. To combat this antibiotic-tolerant population, a better understanding of the molecular physiology of persisters is required. In this study, we collected samples at different stages of the biphasic kill curve to reveal the dynamics of the cellular molecular changes that occur in the process of persister formation. After exposure to antibiotics with different modes of action, namely, vancomycin and enrofloxacin, similar persister levels were obtained. Both shared and distinct stress responses were enriched for the respective persister populations. However, the dynamics of the presence of proteins linked to the persister phenotype throughout the biphasic kill curve and the molecular profiles in a stable persistent population did show large differences, depending on the antibiotic used. This suggests that persisters at the molecular level are highly stress specific, emphasizing the importance of characterizing persisters generated under different stress conditions. Additionally, although generated persisters exhibited cross-tolerance toward tested antibiotics, combined therapies were demonstrated to be a promising approach to reduce persister levels. In conclusion, this investigation sheds light on the stress-specific nature of persisters, highlighting the necessity of tailored treatment approaches and the potential of combined therapy.

Coupling of triamines with diisocyanates on Au(111) leads to the formation of polyurea networks.

The surface-confined coupling reaction between melamine (1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine) and 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate has been investigated on Au(111) by scanning tunneling microscopy. Diisocyanate species are stabilized at the edges of melamine arrays and coupling reactions to form small urea oligomers may be initiated at room temperature. These oligomers are incorporated into the two-dimensional melamine array. Annealing accelerates the formation of larger oligomers with multiple urea linkages. The oligomers can themselves form ordered 2-D structures stabilized by intermolecular H-bonding. At higher annealing temperatures, oligomers containing as many as seven or eight urea linkages were identified. These oligomers were able to form 2-D porous structures via interoligomer H-bonding interactions. We discuss the composition of all of the phases observed and identify how covalent and noncovalent interactions stabilize each phase.