Dynamics of Adaptation During Three Years of Evolution Under Long-Term Stationary Phase.

ABSTRACT: Many bacterial species that cannot sporulate, such as the model bacterium Escherichia coli, can nevertheless survive for years, following exhaustion of external resources, in a state termed long-term stationary phase (LTSP). Here we describe the dynamics of E. coli adaptation during the first three years spent under LTSP. We show that during this time, E. coli continuously adapts genetically through the accumulation of mutations. For nonmutator clones, the majority of mutations accumulated appear to be adaptive under LTSP, reflected in an extremely convergent pattern of mutation accumulation. Despite the rapid and convergent manner in which populations adapt under LTSP, they continue to harbor extensive genetic variation. The dynamics of evolution of mutation rates under LTSP are particula

SUBMITTER: Katz S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8233507 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature