Dormant, persistent state of a bacterial population
Persister cells are subpopulations of cells that resist treatment, and become antimicrobial tolerant by changing to a state of dormancy or quiescence.[1][2] Persister cells in their dormancy do not divide.[3] The tolerance shown in persister cells differs from antimicrobial resistance in that the tolerance is not inherited and is reversible.[4] When treatment has stopped the state of dormancy can be reversed and the cells can reactivate and multiply. Most persister cells are bacterial, and there are also fungal persister cells,[5] yeast persister cells, and cancer persister cells that show tolerance for cancer drugs.[6]