Immature bacteria fight antibiotics

JERUSALEM, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Researchers in Israel have discovered that bacteria fight antibiotics by producing slow-growing cells that survive because they are so immature.

A team from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Rockefeller University in New York say that the "persistent" cells later develop into normal cells that can re-infect a patient. Their research into e-coli bacteria appeared in a recent issue of Science Magazine.

The researchers found that bacteria colonies produce the immature cells constantly whether or not they are under attack.

Nathalie Questembert-Balaban, a professor of biophysics at Hebrew University, said that the research may lead to a solution to the problem of "relapse." She suggested that either antibiotic administration could be timed to hit the persistent cells as they reach maturity or new drugs could be found targeting immature bacteria.

The team's work could also determine why cancer recurs in patients after a successful remission.