CYCLES OF FAMINE AND FEAST - THE STARVATION AND OUTGROWTH STRATEGIES OF A MARINE VIBRIO

Studies of starvation survival in non-differentiating bacteria have la rgely focused on physiological changes and regulatory aspects of a few master regulators such as the signal molecule ppGpp and the stationar y phase alternative sigma factor, sigma S. Recent findings have implic ated a series of novel key events for the entry as well as exit from s tarvation. The importance of alternative sigma factors other than sigm a S is emerging. In addition, low molecular weight extracellular signa ls have been demonstrated to be essential for the induction and mediat ion of several adaptive responses. The importance of mRNA modification and stability for starvation survival as well as outgrowth is receivi ng renewed interest. In this paper, we present the results obtained fr om studies of starvation survival and recovery of Vibrio sp. strain S1 4.