[Starvation of bacteria as a stress caused by substrate limitation]

The analysis of literature has made it possible to establish the priority of Russian research works made in the 1970-80s on the subject of starvation of bacteria caused by substrate limitation as well as research made in the 1990s concerning starvation of bacteria. This state is characterized by synthesis of additional proteins, so-called stress proteins, which not only ensure the survival of bacteria under the conditions of substrate limitation, but also protect them from a number of other stressors. In spite of the fact that genetic mechanisms regulating the synthesis of some stressor proteins have been revealed their significance for microbiological technology is not yet clear.