Genomes of all living organisms are constantly threatened by endogenous and exogenous
agents that challenge the chemical integrity of DNA. Most bacteria have evolved a …

Population-wide tolerance and persisters enable susceptible bacterial cells to endure
hostile environments, including antimicrobial exposure. The SOS response can play a …

Antibiotics can induce mutations that cause antibiotic resistance. Yet, despite their
importance, mechanisms of antibiotic-promoted mutagenesis remain elusive. We report that …

By targeting essential cellular processes, antibiotics provoke metabolic perturbations and
induce stress responses and genetic variation in bacteria. Here we review current …

Transient antibiotic treatment typically eradicates most sensitive bacteria except a few
survivors called persisters. The second messenger (p) ppGpp plays a key role in persister …

Bacteria have a considerable ability and potential to acquire resistance against antimicrobial
agents by acting diverse mechanisms such as target modification or overexpression …

Origin of DNA replication is an enigma because the replicative DNA polymerases (DNAPs)
are not homologous among the three domains of life, Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. The …

Unwanted evolution of designed DNA sequences limits metabolic and genome engineering
efforts. Engineered functions that are burdensome to host cells and slow their replication are …

Deinococcus bacteria are extremely resistant to radiation and other DNA damage-and
oxidative stress-generating conditions. An efficient SOS-independent response mechanism …

In natural environments, bacteria are frequently exposed to sub‐lethal levels of DNA
damage, which leads to the induction of a stress response (the SOS response in Escherichia …