Abstract

Background: Bacterial persister cells are dormant, slow-growing or growth-arrested phenotypic variants of normal cells in bacterial populations and are suggested that occurrence of the persisters leads to the recalcitrance and relapse of different chronic infections. Acinetobacter baumannii associated-infections are often correlated with high rates of drug-tolerant persisters, triggering a leading human health concern. Methods: In our study, mqsR (as the toxin) and mqsA (as antitoxin) were considered as novel antimicrobial targets and silencing with antisense peptide nucleic acid (PNA) assay to eradicate the A. baumannii persister cells. Firstly, mqsR/A genes were molecularly evaluated. The functionality was assessed by normal and stress conditions in A. baumannii persister cells. Results: Expression of mqsR significantly increased the under stress. A high expression of mqsR TA type II system was detected in A. baumannii persister cells. The mqsR gene fully silenced by PNA and A. baumannii persisters is eradicated. Conclusions: Antisense mqsR-PNA in 15 and 20 mu M concentrations could eradicate A. baumannii persister cells. Moreover, it is proposed that other TA loci in A. baumannii are surveyed by antisense PNA to detect their functionality. However, conferring to importance of persisters in human infections, ex vivo, in vivo, preclinical and clinical settings could be highlighted.