title: Characterization of the starvation-survival response of Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: The starvation-survival response of Staphylococcus aureus as a result of glucose, amino acid, phosphate, or multiple-nutrient limitation was investigated. Glucose and multiple-nutrient limitation resulted in the loss of viability of about 99 to 99.9% of the population within 2 days. The remaining surviving cells developed increased survival potential, remaining viable for months. Amino acid or phosphate limitation did not lead to the development of a stable starvation-survival state, and cells became nonculturable within 7 days. For multiple-nutrient limitation, the development of the starvation-survival state was cell density dependent. Starvation survival was associated with a decrease in cell size and increase in resistance to acid shock and oxidative stress. There was no evidence for the formation of a viable but nonculturable state during starvation as demonstrated by flow cytometry. Long-term survival of cells was dependent on cell wall and protein biosynthesis. Analysis of [35S]methionine incorporation and labelled proteins demonstrated that differential protein synthesis occurred deep into starvation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005947:Glucose; D010400:Penicillin G