The antibiotic polymyxin can pierce the armor of active bacteria, but are ineffective when armor production is shut off in dormant bacteria.

Our bodies are a constant battlefield between pathogens and our immune system. But beyond this battle, there’s a larger war being fought between humans and drug-resistant bacteria. When antibiotics ...

Composite image of E. coli exposed to the polymyxin antibiotic – the images show the changes to the outer layer of armour over time. From left to right: bacterium untreated by the antibiotic; ...