Abstract
It was reported in our previous paper that the starved cells ofAeromonas hydrophilawere more virulent compared to the cells cultured in a medium. In this study, differences in their protein profiles were compared between the starved and cultured cells of the bacterium. Total proteins, outer membrane proteins (OMP) and S-layer proteins prepared from starved and cultured cells were analysed by SDS-PAGE. A different pattern was shown in the OMPs between the cells. Major bands of OMPs, 39, 52 and 97 kDa, were detected in the starved cells, however they were not detected in the cultured cells. In S-layer fraction, major band estimated at 91 kDa was found only in the cultured cells. Experimental result on phagocytosis of crucian carp macrophages against those cells revealed that phagocytic rate of the starved cells was lower than that of the cultured cells. These results indicate that starvation induces shifts in OMP and S-layer proteins ofA. hydrophilawhich may enhance the resistance of the bacterium against phagocytosis of macrophages.
