Microbial Cell Individuality and the Underlying Sources of Heterogeneity
Abstract
Single cells in genetically homogeneous microbial cultures exhibit marked phenotypic individuality, a biological phenomenon that is considered to bolster the fitness of populations. Major phenotypes that are characterized by heterogeneity span the breadth of microbiology, in fields ranging from pathogenicity to ecology. The cell cycle, cell ageing and epigenetic regulation are proven drivers of heterogeneity in several of the best-known phenotypic examples. However, the full contribution of factors such as stochastic gene expression is yet to be realized.
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In prokaryotes, intercellular communication and multicellular coordination are widespread and influence the expression and intensity of multiple phenotypes.
“In procaryotes, intercellular communication and multicellular coordination are widespread and influence the expression and intensity of multiple phenotypes [6,8,9,10,11,12].”
From Microbiota of Cheese Ecosystems: A Perspective on Cheesemaking (2025) · cites this paper as [6]
Microbial populations gain an advantage from formation of variant subpopulations arising from phenotypic heterogeneity and genotypic variations, which may be better adapted to withstand environmental perturbations and exploit novel ecological niches.
“Microbial populations gain an advantage from the formation of variant subpopulations—arising from both phenotypic heterogeneity and genotypic variations (e.g., genome rearrangements and mutations)—which may be better adapted to withstand environmental perturbations and exploit novel ecological niches [6].”
From Microbiota of Cheese Ecosystems: A Perspective on Cheesemaking (2025) · cites this paper as [6]
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Persister cells, dormancy and infectious disease
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“…populations gain an advantage from the formation of variant subpopulations—arising from both phenotypic heterogeneity and genotypic variations (e.g., genome rearrangements and mutations)— which may be better adapted to withstand environmental perturbations and exploit novel ecological niches [6].”
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- Authors
- Avery, S. V.
- Affiliations
- University of Nottingham (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Avery, Simon V.
- ORCID
- Avery, Simon V.
- Venue
- Nature Reviews Microbiology
- Published
- 2006-08
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 577-587
- ISSN
- 1740-1526 (ISSN-L)
- 1740-1534
- OpenAlex
- W2019462270
- Cited by
- 521
- References
- 130
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 47 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 38
- FWCI
- 2.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Reviews Microbiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Keywords
- phenotypic heterogeneity, cell cycle, cellular aging, epigenetic regulation, stochastic gene expression, population fitness, pathogenicity, microbial ecology
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Animals, Antigens, Surface, Bacteria, Cell Cycle, Chemotaxis, DNA Damage, Drug Resistance, Microbial, Phenotype, Spores, Bacterial, Genetic Variation, Gene Expression, Genes, Reporter, Bacterial Physiological Phenomena
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