Temporal evolution and vertical stratification of Microcystis toxic potential during a first bloom event

In order to study the setup of a Microcystis bloom and the evolution of its toxic potential, we studied the temporal and vertical variations in Microcystis aeruginosa abundance, microcystins (MC) concentrations (intracellular and extracellular), and the relative proportion of potentially microcystin-producing cells (MC-producing cells) in relation to physicochemical parameters in the recently setup Moroccan reservoir “Yaacoub Al Mansour.” The Microcystis bloom appeared relatively late in the season and was associated with a low proportion of MC-producing cells in the water surface layer, probably related to non-limiting nutrient concentrations. Interestingly, the setup of the bloom leads to a vertical gradient, showing a decrease in Microcystis cell abundance inversely coupled with an increase in the proportion of MC-producing cells. Thus, this can be the result of the growth where non-MC-producing cells remain in the lighted water layer easier than MC-producing ones. Nevertheless, parameters other than light intensity may influence the toxic potential of bloom as no vertical pattern was observed concerning microcystins cellular quotas. The high microcystins concentrations measured in the deep water layer have also proved the importance of considering the deep part of aquatic ecosystem in the management of health risks associated with cyanobacterial proliferations.     

Identification,Source, and Metabolism of N-Ethylglutamate in Escherichia coli

N-Ethylglutamate (NEG) was detected in Escherichia coli BL21 cells grown on LB broth, and it was found to occur at a concentration of ∼4 mM in these cells under these conditions. The same cells grown on M9 glucose medium contained no detectable amount of NEG. Analysis of the LB broth showed the presence of NEG, a compound never before reported as a natural product. Isotope dilution analysis showed that it occurred at a concentration of 160 μM in LB broth. Analyses of yeast extract and tryptone, the organic components of LB broth, both showed the presence NEG. It was demonstrated that NEG can be generated during the autolysis of the yeast used in the preparation of the yeast extract. Growth of these E. coli cells in LB broth prepared in deuterated water showed no incorporation of deuterium into NEG, demonstrating that E. coli cells did not generate the NEG. Cell growth rates were not affected by the addition of 5 mM NEG to either LB or M9 glucose medium. l-[ethyl-²H₄]NEG was found to be readily incorporated into the cells and metabolized by the cells. From these results, it was concluded that all of the NEG present in the cells was taken up from the medium. NEG could serve as the sole nitrogen source for E. coli when grown on M9 glucose medium in the presence of glucose but could not serve as the sole carbon source on M9 medium in the absence of glucose.During work on developing methods for the analysis of the amino acids generated by recombinant archaeal mutases, I developed procedures for the recovery and analysis of the free amino acids present in cell extracts of Escherichia coli. When these methods were applied to analysis of E. coli grown on LB broth, I always found a large amount of an unknown amino acid. Here I report on the identification of this amino acid as N-ethylglutamate (NEG). NEG has never been reported as a natural product. I demonstrate that NEG is readily taken up by E. coli and can serve as the sole source of nitrogen when the cells are grown on M9 glucose medium.     

Zooplankton community grazing impact on a bloom of Alexandrium fundyense in the Gulf of Maine

Shipboard grazing experiments were conducted in the Gulf of Maine and on Georges Bank during of June 2006 to estimate zooplankton community grazing impact on a natural bloom of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium fundyense. Surface seawater samples containing natural populations of grazers and A. fundyense from 23 stations were incubated at ambient temperatures. Concentrations of A. fundyense after incubations were compared to those at the start of each experiment to determine net increases due to population growth, or decreases presumed to be primarily due to grazing losses. Abundances of both microzooplankton (tintinnids, oligotrich ciliates, rotifers, copepod nauplii and heterotrophic dinoflagellates) and mesozooplankton (copepod nauplii, copepodites and adult copepods, rotifers, marine cladocerans, and meroplankton) grazers in experimental aliquots were also determined. The total zooplankton community had minimal grazing impact on natural populations of A. fundyense at most stations. At 70% of the stations where grazing experiments were performed, there were no significant differences in initial and final concentrations of A. fundyense. This indicated that growth of, and grazing on A. fundyense were in approximate balance. At 2 stations, which had the highest A. fundyense abundances of the cruise (>10⁴ cells l⁻¹), % of the A. fundyense population grazed per day was significantly negative, indicating that net population growth of A. fundyense exceeded grazing losses. At 5 stations, which had low concentrations of A. fundyense (10²–10³ cells l⁻¹), % of the A. fundyense population grazed per day was significantly positive, indicating that losses of A. fundyense due to grazing exceeded net population growth. For stations with significant differences between Initial and Grazed concentrations of A. fundyense, grazing had the greatest impact at lower concentrations of A. fundyense, and grazing impact by the larger mesozooplankton was inversely related to zooplankton abundance. There was no relationship between microzooplankton abundance and grazing impact on A. fundyense. Grazing exceeded growth only where A. fundyense abundance was low, and growth exceeded grazing only where A. fundyense abundance was high. The inverse relationship between grazing impact and A. fundyense abundance implies that grazing may be capable of retarding bloom development at low concentrations typical of the early stages of a bloom, but at higher concentrations once a bloom becomes established, either grazing maintains a balance with A. fundyense growth, or growth exceeds grazing losses at highest concentrations.     

Maximum Fruit Growth Potential and Seasonal Patterns of Resource Dynamics During Peach Growth

Maximum fruit growth potential, the growth attained by fruitswhen they are grown under optimal environmental conditions inthe presence of a non-limiting supply of resources, was estimatedfor two peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] cultivars that differin the timing of resource demand for reproductive growth. Maximumpotential fruit growth was estimated on trees that were heavilythinned at bloom. On these trees, resource availability exceededresource demand for fruit growth. For both cultivars, the mean dry weights of fruits grown onunthinned trees were approximately half the mean dry weightsof fruits grown on trees that were heavily thinned at bloom,indicating that fruit growth was source-limited on unthinnedtrees. Comparison of the seasonal patterns of relative growthrate of fruits on unthinned and heavily thinned trees indicatedthe source-limited fruit growth occurred during distinct periodsof the growing season. On the early maturing cultivar, source-limitedfruit growth occurred from 300 degree-days after bloom untilharvest (4·5-10 weeks after bloom). On the late maturingcultivar, source-limited fruit growth occurred from 200-900and 1600-1900 degree-days (3·5-12 and 18-20 weeks) afterbloom. Although the final dry weight of fruits on the early maturingcultivar was only half that of fruits on the late maturing cultivar,the potential net sink strength of fruits was significantlyhigher on the early than the late maturing cultivar throughoutthe entire growth period of the early maturing cultivar. Resourceavailability for fruit growth was similar on the early and latematuring cultivars, indicating that selection for early maturingfruits has not changed the patterns of resource availabilityfor fruit growth.Copyright 1995, 1999 Academic Press Maximum fruit growth potential, carbon economy, partitioning, resource availability, resource limitation, source-limited growth, sink activity, sink strength, growth analysis, relative growth rate, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, peach     

Identification by hybridization histochemistry of human endometrial cells expressing mRNAs encoding a uterine beta-lactoglobulin homologue and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1.

A beta-lactoglobulin homologue (beta LG/PP14) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) are two major secretory proteins of the human endometrium. In the present study, we have shown that beta LG/PP14 mRNA is expressed in the endometrium in a cyclic manner, being hardly detectable in midcycle and most abundant during the late secretory phase. IGFBP-1 mRNA is also expressed in endometrium, but in amounts smaller than those encoding beta LG/PP14 and with maximal accumulation earlier in the secretory phase. The expression of these two mRNAs occurs in different cell types of the endometrium, as revealed by in situ hybridization techniques using single-stranded RNA probes. The glandular epithelial cells accumulate beta LG/PP14 mRNA during the late secretory phase of the cycle, whereas only the stromal cells of the late secretory endometrium express IGFBP-1 mRNA. In contrast to the endometrium, the two mRNAs are present at very low abundance in the fallopian tubes where they are expressed in the epithelial cells of the mucosa.     

Glucose and Nutrient Concentrations Affect the Expression of a 104-Kilodalton Listeria Adhesion Protein in Listeria monocytogenes

Growth media and environmental conditions influence the expression of adhesion and invasion proteins in Listeria monocytogenes. Here, the expression of the 104-kDa Listeria adhesion protein (LAP) was studied in nutrient-rich media (Trypticase soy broth [TSB] and brain heart infusion [BHI]), minimal medium (Luria-Bertani [LB]), or nutrient-deficient medium (peptone water [PW]) by immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunoelectron microscopy. Also, the effect of incorporating different concentrations of glucose on LAP expression was studied. Immunoblotting showed that LAP expression was at least twofold higher in LB medium than in TSB or BHI, while PW supported very poor cell growth and LAP expression. ELISA and immunoblotting results showed that higher concentrations of glucose (>1.6 g/liter) lowered the culture pH and suppressed LAP expression by more than 75%; however, the addition of K₂HPO₄ reduced this effect. L. monocytogenes cells grown in LB media with lower concentrations of glucose showed higher adhesion to Caco-2 cells (3,716 and 4,186 cpm of attached bacteria for 0 and 0.2 g of glucose/liter, respectively), while L. monocytogenes cells grown in LB with higher glucose concentrations exhibited lower adhesion (2,126 and 2,221 cpm for 1.6 and 3.2 g of glucose/liter, respectively). A LAP-negative L. monocytogenes strain (A572) showed low adhesion profiles regardless of the amount of glucose added. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that LAP is localized mainly in the cytoplasm, with only a few molecules located on the cell surface. Growth in LB with high glucose (3.2 g/liter) showed the presence of only a few molecules in the cells, corroborating the results observed with ELISA or immunoblotting. In summary, nutrient-rich media and high concentrations of glucose suppressed LAP expression, which possibly is due to the changes in the pH of the media during growth from the accumulation of sugar fermentation by-products.     

Viral Impacts on Total Abundance and Clonal Composition of the Harmful Bloom-Forming Phytoplankton Heterosigma akashiwo

Recent observations that viruses are very abundant and biologically active components in marine ecosystems suggest that they probably influence various biogeochemical and ecological processes. In this study, the population dynamics of the harmful bloom-forming phytoplankton Heterosigma akashiwo (Raphidophyceae) and the infectious H. akashiwo viruses (HaV) were monitored in Hiroshima Bay, Japan, from May to July 1998. Concurrently, a number of H. akashiwo and HaV clones were isolated, and their virus susceptibilities and host ranges were determined through laboratory cross-reactivity tests. A sudden decrease in cell density of H. akashiwo was accompanied by a drastic increase in the abundance of HaV, suggesting that viruses contributed greatly to the disintegration of the H. akashiwo bloom as mortality agents. Despite the large quantity of infectious HaV, however, a significant proportion of H. akashiwo cells survived after the bloom disintegration. The viral susceptibility of H. akashiwo isolates demonstrated that the majority of these surviving cells were resistant to most of the HaV clones, whereas resistant cells were a minor component during the bloom period. Moreover, these resistant cells were displaced by susceptible cells, presumably due to viral infection. These results demonstrated that the properties of dominant cells within the H. akashiwo population change during the period when a bloom is terminated by viral infection, suggesting that viruses also play an important role in determining the clonal composition and maintaining the clonal diversity of H. akashiwo populations. Therefore, our data indicate that viral infection influences the total abundance and the clonal composition of one host algal species, suggesting that viruses are an important component in quantitatively and qualitatively controlling phytoplankton populations in natural marine environments.     

Changes in extracellular polysaccharide content and morphology of Microcystis aeruginosa at different specific growth rates

The cyanobacterium Microcystis mainly exists in colonies under natural conditions but as single cells in typical laboratory cultures. Understanding the mechanism by which single cells form small and large colonies can provide a deeper insight into the life history of Microcystis and the mechanisms of Microcystis bloom formation. In this paper, Microcystis aeruginosa cultured under varying light intensities and temperatures exhibited different specific growth rates. Correlations were found between the specific growth rate, extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) content, and morphology of M. aeruginosa. Under low light intensities and temperatures, M. aeruginosa formed small colonies (maximum colony size approximately 100 μm) and exhibited low specific growth rates. By contrast, standard culture conditions yielded single or paired cells with high specific growth rates. Moreover, the EPS content decreased dramatically with increasing specific growth rate. A significant positive linear relationship was observed between the EPS content per cell and colony size. High EPS content and colony formation were associated with low specific growth rates. The specific growth rate in laboratory cultures was higher than the in situ growth rate under natural conditions. This result may explain why Microcystis normally exists as single cells or (more rarely) as paired cells in axenic laboratory cultures after long-term cultivation, but forms colonies under natural conditions.     

Changing phosphorus concentration and subsequent prophage induction alter composition of a freshwater viral assemblage

1. The effects of nutrients on the temporal variation in viral assemblage composition, and in particular the occurrence of temperate phages, were assessed in mesotrophic Lake Erken over 5 months of the ice‐free period. The percentage of the bacterial community that contained inducible prophages (lysogenic bacteria, LB) changed over the season, being lowest in late spring and highest in early autumn. The most important variables for predicting LB were concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and temperature. 2. The viral assemblage composition, as determined by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), also changed over the season. Prophages were induced by incubations with mitomycin C and we show, for the first time for natural communities, that the resulting temperate phages could be detected using PFGE. 3. A substantial fraction (19%) of the number of detected operational taxonomic units (OTUs: defined as unique genome sizes) appeared unique to temperate phages and 41% of OTUs increased in relative abundance after treatment with mitomycin C. 4. Different viral OTUs were induced at different times during the season. The most important environmental factor covarying with viral assemblage composition over the period of study, as determined by multivariate analysis, was concentration of TP. In re‐growth cultures with natural bacteria and lowered viral abundance (VA) (decreased virus to bacteria ratio), addition of PO₄‐P induced prophages and resulted in subsequent production of temperate phages, as indicated by a decreased percentage of LB and increased VA. Incubations of natural bacterial communities with mitomycin C (field data) or PO₄‐P (experiment) changed the viral assemblage composition at a similar rate as the observed monthly changes in the lake.     

播期播量对旱地小麦土壤水分消耗和植株氮素运转的影响

为解决旱地小麦等雨播种的生产现状,明确播量对土壤水分利用和产量形成的调控机制,于2015—2017年在山西闻喜试验基地开展大田试验,以早播(9月20日,EB)、晚播(10月10日,LB)两个播期为主区,以低密度(67.5 kg·hm^-2,LD)、中密度 (90 kg·hm^-2,MD)、高密度(112.5 kg·hm^-2,HD)3个播量为副区,研究播期播量对旱地小麦土壤水分消耗和植株氮素运转的影响.结果表明: 早播较晚播生育期土壤总耗水量增加11～22 mm;随播种密度的增加,生育期土壤总耗水量增加2～20 mm,且早播条件下,花前土壤耗水量增加,晚播条件下,花后土壤耗水量显著增加.早播较晚播在低、中密度条件下花前氮素运转量、花后氮素积累量增加,高密度条件下降低.早播条件下,花前氮素运转量,茎秆+叶鞘、穗轴+颖壳花前氮素运转量对籽粒的贡献率以及花后氮素积累量均以低密度条件下最高;晚播条件下,花前氮素运转量和花后氮素积累量随播种密度增加而增加.早播较晚播产量显著提高163～996 kg·hm^-2,提高幅度达5%～26%,水分利用效率提高幅度达2%～21%,氮素吸收效率提高幅度达3%～36%,氮素收获指数提高幅度最高达11%.早播条件下产量、水分利用效率、氮素吸收效率、氮素收获指数以低密度条件下最高;晚播条件下以高密度条件下最高.此外,花前氮素运转量与花前100～200 cm土壤耗水量显著相关,尤其是茎秆+叶鞘、穗轴+颖壳;花后植株氮素积累量与花后100～300 cm土壤耗水量呈显著相关.总之,旱地小麦9月20日配套播量67.5 kg·hm^-2、10月10日配套播量112.5 kg·hm^-2有利于增产增效.     

Induction of Protease Activity in Vibrio anguillarum by Gastrointestinal Mucus

The effect of gastrointestinal mucus on protease activity in Vibrio anguillarum was investigated. Protease activity was measured by using an azocasein hydrolysis assay. Cells grown to stationary phase in mucus (200 μg of mucus protein/ml) exhibited ninefold-greater protease activity than cells grown in Luria-Bertani broth plus 2% NaCl (LB20). Protease induction was examined with cells grown in LB20 and resuspended in mucus, LB20, nine-salts solution (NSS [a carbon-, nitrogen-, and phosphorus-free salt solution]), or marine minimal medium (3M) (~10⁹ CFU/ml). Induction of protease activity occurred 60 to 90 min after addition of mucus and was ≥70-fold greater than protease activity measured in cells incubated in either LB20 or 3M. Mucus was fractionated into aqueous and chloroform-methanol-soluble fractions. The aqueous fraction supported growth of V. anguillarum cells, but did not induce protease activity. The chloroform-methanol-soluble fraction did not support growth, nor did it induce protease activity. When the two fractions were mixed, protease activity was induced. The chloroform-methanol-soluble fraction did not induce protease activity in cells growing in LB20. EDTA (50 mM) inhibited the protease induced by mucus. Upon addition of divalent cations, Mg²⁺ (100 mM) was more effective than equimolar amounts of either Ca²⁺ or Zn²⁺ in restoring activity, suggesting that the mucus-inducible protease was a magnesium-dependent metalloprotease. An empA mutant strain of V. anguillarum did not exhibit protease activity after exposure to mucus, but did grow in mucus. Southern analysis and PCR amplification confirmed that V. anguillarum M93 contained empA. These data demonstrate that the empA metalloprotease of V. anguillarum is specifically induced by gastrointestinal mucus.     

Life-history stages of natural bloom populations and the bloom dynamics of a tropical Asian ribotype of Alexandrium minutum

In 2015, a remarkably high density bloom of Alexandrium minutum occurred in Sungai Geting, a semi-enclosed lagoon situated in the northeast of Peninsular Malaysia, causing severe discoloration and contaminated the benthic clams (Polymesoda). Plankton and water samples were collected to investigate the mechanisms of bloom development of this toxic species. Analysis of bloom samples using flow cytometry indicated that the bloom was initiated by the process of active excystment, as planomycetes (>4C cells) were observed in the early stage of the bloom. Increase in planozygotes (2C cells) was evident during the middle stage of the bloom, coinciding with an abrupt decrease in salinity and increase of temperature. The bloom was sustained through the combination of binary division of vegetative cells, division of planozygotes, and cyst germination through continuous excystment. Nutrient depletion followed by precipitation subsequently caused the bloom to terminate. This study provides the first continuous record of in situ life-cycle stages of a natural bloom population of A. minutum through a complete bloom cycle. The event has provided a fundamental understanding of the pelagic life-cycle stages of this tropical dinoflagellate, and demonstrated a unique bloom development characteristic shared among toxic Alexandrium species in coastal embayments.     

Spatial and temporal variability in filament length of a toxic cyanobacterium (Anabaena affinis)

1. This study examines the distribution of Anabaena affinis filament lengths under natural conditions as a function of depth and season, and in the laboratory as a function of growth phase. Because Anabaena affinis is only toxic when consumed, both its filament length and position in the water column are important determinants of its potential impact on zooplankton populations. 2. Star Lake (Norwich, Vermont, U.S.A.), a natural, eutrophic pond, remained thermally stratified throughout the Anabaena bloom. Filament number and length differed significantly with both sampling date and water depth. Most filaments occurred at 0.5 m, particularly at the height of the bloom. Throughout the entire water column average filament length decreased from approximately 0.53 mm in May to 0.14 mm in July. The shortest filaments occurred at the 2.5 m depth. Filament length distributions (combined for all depths) for 29 May, 12 June and 3 July, corresponding to the beginning, middle and end of the bloom, respectively, differed significantly among the three dates. These patterns most likely reflect variable growth conditions, both during the season and in the water column. 3. In the laboratory, Anabaena filament length was affected by medium composition and growth phase. Filaments were significantly longer when grown in MBL than in ASM medium. Also, the average length of Anabaena filaments grown in MBL changed significantly as cultures aged; by day 13 filament length (2.01 ± 0.38 mm, mean ± SD) was twice that on day 0 (0.97 ± 0.71 mm). As cell concentration continued to increase, mean filament length gradually decreased.     

Effects of a bacterial algicide,IRI-160AA,on dinoflagellates and the microbial community in microcosm experiments

Filtrates from the bacterium Shewanella sp. IRI-160 (termed IRI-160AA) have been shown to inhibit population growth and kill a variety of dinoflagellates grown in culture. Here we test the immediate efficacy of IRI-160AA in laboratory microcosms initiated from three natural dinoflagellate blooms (Prorocentrum minimum, Karlodinium veneficum and Gyrodinium instriatum). We measured target dinoflagellate abundance, total chlorophyll-a, photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry, and changes to the prokaryotic and eukaryotic community composition over 2–3 days of IRI-160AA incubation. Naked dinoflagellates were impacted more, while abundance of the thecate P. minimum was not affected. However, dinoflagellate growth inhibition was generally lower than that observed in uni-algal cultures, and took longer to occur. Eukaryotic community composition in IRI-160AA treated microcosms was significantly different from control incubations, and was driven predominantly by increases in heterotrophic protists (e.g. Euplotes sp. and Paraphysomonas sp.). Similarly, significant changes to the prokaryotic community structure were evident. Microcosms of G. instriatum with higher algicide concentrations indicated that algicidal activity was enhanced in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, total ciliate abundance as well as a bactivorous chyrsophyte (Paraphysomonas sp.) increased in a dose dependent manner. Total diatom abundance increased at lower IRI-160AA concentrations, but increased less with increasing dose. Overall, the bio-activity of IRI-160AA on naturally occurring dinoflagellates in mixed natural microbial communities is encouraging from the applied perspective of using the active compound(s) in IRI-160AA as natural agent(s) to manage harmful dinoflagellate blooms.     

广东大亚湾甲藻孢囊及其与锥状斯氏藻赤潮的关系

1999年12月至2001年1月,在大亚湾澳头海域用沉积物捕捉器(Sediment trap)及TFO重力采泥器对甲藻孢囊进行每月一次的周年监测,并同时研究了浮游植物的季节变化.结果显示,晚秋孢囊形成率最高(3.48105 cysts/m2d),冬季形成率较低,年平均为1.28105 cysts/m2d.锥状斯氏藻(Scrippsiella trochoidea)是大亚湾沉积物孢囊中的绝对优势种,除个别季节外,其形成率一般占孢囊总形成率的50%以上.2000年8月至9月,该海域发生了一次较大规模的锥状斯氏藻赤潮,最高细胞密度达4.0104 cells/mL.赤潮中后期,锥状斯氏藻孢囊包括暂时性孢囊和休眠孢囊大量形成,孢囊的形成减少了水体中营养细胞数量,是赤潮消退原因之一.       

Controls on the initiation and development of blooms of the dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides Margalef in lower Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries

Massive blooms of the dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides occur annually in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The initiation of blooms and their physical transport has been documented and the location of bloom initiation was identified during the 2007 and 2008 blooms. In the present study we combined daily sampling of nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton abundance at a fixed station to determine physical and chemical controls on bloom formation and enhanced underway water quality monitoring (DATAFLOW) during periods when blooms are known to occur. While C. polykrikoides did not reach bloom concentrations until late June during 2009, vegetative cells were present at low concentrations in the Elizabeth River (4 cells ml⁻¹) as early as May 27. Subsequent samples collected from the Lafayette River documented the increase in C. polykrikoides abundance in the upper branches of the Lafayette River from mid-June to early July, when discolored waters were first observed. The 2009 C. polykrikoides bloom began in the Lafayette River when water temperatures were consistently above 25 °C and during a period of calm winds, neap tides, high positive tidal residuals, low nutrient concentrations, and a low dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) to dissolved inorganic phosphorous (DIP) ratio. The pulsing of nutrients associated with intense but highly localized storm activity during the summer months when water temperatures are above 25 °C may play a role in the initiation of C. polykrikoides blooms. The upper Lafayette River appears to be an important area for initiation of algal blooms that then spread to other connected waterways.     

Global Gene Expression Analysis of Long-Term Stationary Phase Effects in E. coli K12 MG1655

Global gene expression was monitored in long-term stationary phase (LSP) cells of E. coli K12 MG1655 and compared with stationary phase (SP) cells that were sub-cultured without prolonged delay to get an insight into the survival strategies of LSP cells. The experiments were carried out using both LB medium and LB supplemented with 10% of glycerol. In both the media the LSP cells showed decreased growth rate compared to SP cells. DNA microarray analysis of LSP cells in both the media resulted in the up- and down-regulation of several genes in LSP cells compared to their respective SP cells in the corresponding media. In LSP cells grown in LB 204 genes whereas cells grown in LB plus glycerol 321 genes were differentially regulated compared to the SP cells. Comparison of these differentially regulated genes indicated that irrespective of the medium used for growth in LSP cells expression of 95 genes (22 genes up-regulated and 73 down-regulated) were differentially regulated. These 95 genes could be associated with LSP status of the cells and are likely to influence survival and growth characteristics of LSP cells. This is indeed so since the up- and down-regulated genes include genes that protect E. coli LSP cells from stationary phase stress and genes that would help to recover from stress when transferred into fresh medium. The growth phenotype in LSP cells could be attributed to up-regulation of genes coding for insertion sequences that confer beneficial effects during starvation, genes coding for putative transposases and simultaneous down-regulation of genes coding for ribosomal protein synthesis, transport-related genes, non-coding RNA genes and metabolic genes. As yet we still do not know the role of several unknown genes and genes coding for hypothetical proteins which are either up- or down-regulated in LSP cells compared to SP cells.