Sample interview questions: Explain your understanding of the principles behind different types of microbial strategies for survival in low-nutrient environments.
Sample answer:
1. Dormancy and Spore Formation:
- Some microbes enter a dormant state or form spores when nutrient levels drop.
- Dormancy involves reducing metabolic activity and entering a resting stage. Spores are specialized cells with thick coats that protect the cell’s DNA and other essential components.
- This allows the microbe to survive harsh conditions and germinate when nutrients become available again.
2. Nutrient Scavenging:
- Microbes can adapt to low-nutrient environments by developing mechanisms to scavenge and utilize nutrients efficiently.
- This can include producing enzymes that break down complex organic compounds into simpler forms that can be absorbed.
- Some microbes can also form symbiotic relationships with other organisms, such as fungi, to access nutrients.
3. Metabolic Versatility:
- Many microbes exhibit metabolic versatility, meaning they can utilize various energy sources and carbon compounds.
- This flexibility allows them to adapt to changing nutrient conditions and survive in environments with limited nutrient availability.
- For example, some bacteria can switch from aerobic respiration to anaerobic respiration when oxygen levels drop.
4. Quorum Sensing:
- Some microbes use quorum sensing to coordinate their behavior and survival strategies.
- Quorum sensing involves the production and detection of chemical signals called autoinducers.
- When a certain threshold of autoinducers is reached, it triggers a collective response among the microbial population, such as the production of enzymes or the formatio… Read full answer