Stress adaptation and survival in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

铜绿假单胞菌在自然和人工环境中几乎无处不在。我们研究这种细菌是因为它是一种高度适应性的细菌模型，能够在许多压力下生存下来。当细菌，特别是铜绿假单胞菌复制缓慢或根本不复制时，它们变得非常难以杀死。我们的研究重点是了解铜绿假单胞菌是如何保护自己免受化学胁迫而生存的，特别是当它处于不生长状态和营养限制的时候。我们特别感兴趣的是了解假单胞菌是如何利用一种称为严格反应的应激反应来帮助适应和在压力下生存的。当细菌缺乏营养或遇到各种形式的外部压力时，这种严格的反应就会被激活。它控制着许多基因的表达，并可以重组细胞的功能和新陈代谢，以促进生存。我们最近发现，在压力下对细菌的严格反应信号可以改变细胞膜的通透性，从而将有毒分子挡在门外。这项研究的目标是了解细菌在缓慢复制期间是如何改变细胞膜的，以及这种机制是如何使它们在抗生素等化学压力下生存下来的。我们的研究将帮助微生物学家更好地了解细菌的生存机制，以及为什么抗生素在杀死不生长的细菌方面可能无效。这些基础知识将帮助科学家发现改进未来抗菌治疗的新方法。

The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is present nearly everywhere in natural and man-made environments. We study this bacteria because is it a model of highly adaptable bacteria capable of surviving many stresses. When bacteria, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are replicating slowly or not at all, they become very difficult to kill. Our research is focused on understanding how Pseudomonas aeruginosa protects itself against chemical stresses to survive, particularly when it is in a non-growing state and under nutrient limitation. We are particularly interested in understanding how Pseudomonas uses a stress response called the stringent response, to help adapt and survive under stress. The stringent response is activated when bacteria starve for nutrients or encounter various forms of external stress. It controls the expression of many genes and can reorganize the cell's functions and metabolism to promote survival. We have recently discovered that the stringent response signals to bacteria under stress to alter the permeability of cell membranes, and thus keep out toxic molecules. The goal of this research is to understand how bacteria alter their cell membrane during periods of slow replication and how this mechanism allows them to survive chemical stress such as antibiotics. Our research will help microbiologist better understand the survival mechanisms that bacteria have and why antibiotics may not effective at killing non-growing bacteria. This fundamental knowledge will help scientists discover new ways to improve antibacterial treatments of the future.