"PNAS" "Sanctuary" for unknown pathogens in human tissues

Antibiotics treat many bacterial infections

Infections such as tuberculosis or typhoid fever are caused by bacteria and can usually be treated well with antibiotics, at least if the bacteria are not resistant

The team of Professor Dirk Bumann of the University of Basel’s Biological Center has now shown that this is not due to dormant and therefore insensitive pathogens, as one might expect

Biopsy tissue

The head of the study, Bumann, said: "After antibiotic treatment, only about 100 bacteria survived

To accomplish this Sisyphus-like task, the researchers used so-called serial two-photon tomography, which was previously used in neurobiology to detect the finest nerve fibers in the brain

Hidden in the police headquarters

In their study, the researchers imaged the spleens of infected mice

Antibiotics alone are not enough

How did these bacteria survive in this surprising place? Scientists have discovered that antibiotics alone cannot eradicate Salmonella in tissues, but require the help of the immune system to eliminate all bacteria

In order to overcome this problem, the research team tried to improve the body's defense capabilities by simultaneously applying immunotherapy

In fact, this adjuvant treatment may lead to more effective removal of bacteria and open up new ways to prevent recurrence

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI

10.