Microbial physiology: Problems and prospects

Physiology is a science of functions. The functions of microorganisms, as for every living being, are metabolism and energy provision; reproduction and death; and regulation of vital activity on the intracellular level and on the level of interactions between microbial cells and abiogenous factors, and 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; prokaryotic 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 to macroorganisms are the introduction or prevention of programmed cell death (PCD) in infected organisms, and a change to the inactive state (persistence). The induction of programmed cell death in cells affected by illness that can extend to sound cells and organisms, the induction of PCD in pathogens that penetrate into the macroorganism, the change of persisters into the active state, and suppression of density effects in microbial populations (quorum sensing) are important trends in microbial physiology and biotechnology of medical and prophylactic preparations.