Z-Ring Formation as a Biomarker in Bacterial Persisters

Bacterial infections that persist despite antimicrobial treatment are a growing concern in the medical field. While much research is focused on antibiotic resistance, bacterial persistence is also a significant contributor to the problem. Persister cells are a subpopulation of bacteria that can temporarily survive antibiotics, and they can resuscitate after treatment is stopped, leading to chronic infections. To properly research resuscitation in these persistent cells, we must first identify which cells to study. One way to do this is by using biomarkers, such as the formation of Z-rings during the growth-inhibited state, which can help determine which persister cells are capable of resuscitation. In this study, E. coli pUA66-ftsZ-gfp cultures were subjected to antibiotics including Gentamicin, Streptomycin, Ampicillin, and Fosfomycin antibiotics. Following treatment, the cells were starved in PBS for two days to allow for Z-ring formation. The next step involved transferring the bacteria onto a microscope slide coated with Luria Bertani (LB) agar, which provides the necessary nutrients for resuscitation. Images of both phase contrast and green fluorescence protein (GFP) fluorescence were taken hourly to monitor growth and Z-ring formation. This approach successfully demonstrated that Z-rings are a reliable biomarker for identifying whether cells are recovering from persistence and returning to normal function.