A biphasic metabolic-growth trade-off governs β-lactam inoculum effects.
Ariane R. Kalifa, Kiran Singh, Philopatier Ibrahim, Trent Moulder, Tiffany Rakela, Yabesera Negussie, Hansika Vusikamalla, Estefania Marin Meneses, Maximiliano Barbosa Mendoza, Debora Pereira Mcmenamin, Daniel Winget, Taija White, Archit Pipalva, Naziba Nuha, Julia Gumirov, , Robert Phillip Smith
The paper quantifies the inoculum effect in β-lactamase-expressing bacteria and shows it is governed by a biphasic trade-off between metabolism and growth rate.
bioRxiv · Oct 14, 2025 · PreprintMicrobiology