Orman, MehmetOfomaja, Miracle2023-07-072023-07-072023-04-13https://hdl.handle.net/10657/14844Persister cells are a subpopulation of bacterial cells that survive antibiotic treatments without specialized mechanisms by temporarily entering a dormant state [1]. Because they proliferate into new bacterial populations after the antibiotic stress is removed, persister cells are associated with recalcitrant infections and antibiotic failure [1,2]. Hence, persisters are a significant public health challenge. It is also important to note that persister cell progeny consists of persisters and cells susceptible to the same antibiotics as the non-persister cells in the original population. Thus, persisters are a transient phenotype. This research project studies Z-rings, physiological structures in bacterial cells that form when the cells are about to divide into daughter cells. Z rings represent a potential biomarker for persister cells because there seems to be a correlation between their formation and persister resuscitation [3]. Specifically, this project aims to investigate this correlation in persister cells formed after ampicillin and fosfomycin treatments. If Z-rings are fundamental to persister survival, researchers can develop clinical therapies that target the Z-rings to sterilize persister cells and reduce recalcitrant bacterial infections. References: 1. Lewis, K., 2010. Persister cells. Annual review of microbiology, 64, pp.357-372. 2. Gollan, B., Grabe, G., Michaux, C. and Helaine, S., 2019. Bacterial persisters and infection: past, present, and progressing. Annual review of microbiology, 73, pp.359-385. 3. Mohiuddin, S.G., Massahi, A. and Orman, M.A., 2022. Lon Deletion Impairs Persister Cell Resuscitation in Escherichia coli. Mbio, 13(1), pp.e02187-21.enThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).Chemical EngineeringPoster