Microbial physiology: problems and prospects

Abstract

Physiology is a science on functions. Functions of microorganisms, as for every living thing, are metabolism and energy provision, reproduction and death, regulation of vital activity on the intracellular level and on the level of interactions between microbial cells and abiogenous factors, on the level of microbe-microbial interactions and interactions of microorganisms with plants, animals and man. According to metabolic and energetic potentials, microorganisms are subdivided into photo- and chemotrophs, litho- and organotrophs, auto- and heterotrophs; procaryotic organisms assimilate molecular nitrogen. The noted functions are subjected to versatile regulation that is a basis for intra- and intercellular communications. Microbial responses to exposure on macroorganisms is an introduction or a prevention of programmed cell death (PCD) in infected organisms, a change to inactive state (persistence). An induction of programmed cell death in cells affected by illness that can be spreaded to sound cell and organisms, an induction of PCD in pathogens penetrating in macroorganism, a change of persister cell of pathogens into active state, suppression of density effects in microbial populations (quorum sensing) are important trends in microbial physiology and biotechnology of medical and prophylactic preparations.