Succession of cellular states in a Salmonella typhimurium population during starvation in artificial seawater microcosms

Abstract

The succession of the physiological states of Salmonella typhimurium cells under starvation-survival conditions in artificial seawater was investigated by flow cytometry and epifluorescence microscopy using direct examination of different cell functions. Measurements of substrate responsiveness (DVC method), real and potential respiration (redox dye 5-cyano-2, 3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride, CTC), membrane permeability (BacLight™ kit), as well as DNA content (Hoechst 33342 staining) reveal an important heterogeneity within the population, and suggest a progressive physiological cell alteration throughout the starvation process. The transition steps between culturable and prelytic cells are described.