Toxin-Antitoxin Systems and Bacterial Persistence (Review)

Abstract

Persistence is a phenomenon in which bacteria avoid the lethal effects of antibiotics due to their transition to a physiological state, which enables tolerance to antibacterial drugs. Among the factors that contribute to persistence, a special role belongs to toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems, which are involved in the regulation of a wide range of physiological processes and have a significant effect on the results of antibiotic therapy. This review examines the mechanisms of the participation of TA systems in the formation of persistent bacteria, as well as the clinical importance of the phenomenon of persistence and methods for the control of phenotypically tolerant cells via regulation of the activity level of TA modules.