INIMICAL PROCESSES - BACTERIAL SELF-DESTRUCTION AND SUBLETHAL INJURY

It is well recognized that exponentially growing cells are more sensit ive than stationary-phase cells to inimical processes such as heating, freezing and the presence of biocides and antibiotics. This differenc e in resistance is currently explained by the differential expression of biosynthetic pathways, gene regulators and associated enzyme system s that provide an adaptive advantage to the stationary-phase cell. Her e we describe an additional and significant element for the differenti al sensitivity that involves the self-destruction of exponentially gro wing cells. This may have implications for models that predict bacteri al survival during the minimal processing of food.