NOVEL METHODOLOGY FOR IDENTIFYING ANTI-PERSISTER ACTIVITY AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY FOR BORRELIA BURGDORFERI AND OTHER BACTERIA

摘要

The presently disclosed subject matter provides methods, compositions, and kits for assessing the viability of bacteria from a selected genus, assessing the antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria from the selected genus, and identifying compounds with anti-persister activity for bacteria from the selected genus. The bacteria include, but are not limited to, Borrelia burgdorferi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanii, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Compositions include compounds with high activity against Borrelia persisters and their combinations with current Lyme antibiotics for more effect treatment of Lyme disease. Methods for inhibiting the growth and/or survival of bacteria from the Borrelia genus and for treating Lyme disease using appropriate drug combinations in a subject are also provided.