Antibiotic tolerance in environmentally stressed Bacillus subtilis: physical barriers and induction of a viable but nonculturable state.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial communities exposed to rapid changes in their habitat encounter different forms of stress. Fluctuating conditions of the microenvironment drive microorganisms to develop several stress responses to sustain growth and division, like altering gene expression and changing the cell's physiology. It is commonly known that these protection systems may give rise to differently adapted subpopulations and indirectly impact bacterial susceptibility to antimicrobials. This study focuses on the adaptation of a soil-dwelling bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, to sudden osmotic changes, including transient and sustained osmotic upshift. Here, we demonstrate that physiological changes caused by pre-exposure to osmotic stress facilitate B. subtilis' entry into a quiescent state, helping

SUBMITTER: Morawska LP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10117730 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature