Physiological and Molecular Responses of Bacillus subtilis to Hypertonicity: Utilization of Evolutionarily Conserved Adaptation Strategies

Variations in the supply of water and the concomitant changes in salinity and osmolality are among the most significant environmental parameters affecting the survival and growth of microorganisms (Galinski and Truper 1994; Csonka and Epstein 1996; Wood 1999; Bremer and Kramer 2000). Microorganisms can colonize a wide variety of ecological niches with a considerable spectrum of salinitiFs and osmotic conditions that range from concentrated salt brines to fresh water sources (Ventosa et al.1998). Furthermore, within a single bacterial habitat, there also can be drastic fluctuations from the prevalent osmotic milieu.