CHARACTERIZATION OF THE STARVATION-SURVIVAL RESPONSE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS

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 th e loss of viability of about 99 to 99.9% of the population within 2 da ys. The remaining surviving cells developed increased survival potenti al, remaining viable for months. Amino acid or phosphate limitation di d not lead to the development of a stable starvation-survival state, a nd cells became nonculturable within 7 days. For multiple-nutrient lim itation, the development of the starvation-survival state was cell den sity dependent, Starvation survival was associated with a decrease in cell size and increase in resistance to acid shock and oxidative stres s. There was no evidence for the formation of a viable but nonculturab le state during starvation as demonstrated by flow cytometry, Long-ter m survival of cells was dependent on cell wall and protein biosynthesi s. Analysis of [S-35] methionine incorporation and labelled proteins d emonstrated that differential protein synthesis occurred deep into sta rvation.