Bacterial spore heat resistance correlated with water content, wet density, and protoplast/sporoplast volume ratio

Beaman, T C; Greenamyre, J. Timothy; Corner, Thomas R.; Pankratz, H. Stuart; Gerhardt, Philipp

doi:10.1128/jb.150.2.870-877.1982

Cited by 78 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Density of Bacillus anthracis spores spores grown in a (potato infusion) medium different than the one used here (Beaman et al 1982).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the dormant spores, germinated spores and vegetative cells of B. megaterium, B. stearothermophilus and B.cereus have different densities (Black and Gerhardt 1961;Tamir and Gilvarg 1966;Beaman et al 1982;Lindsay et al 1985), it was important to assure that the bacterial stages of B. anthracis could also be accurately isolated. We used phase contrast microscopy to distinguish between germinated spores which appear phase dark and dormant spores which appear phase bright ( Fig.…”

Section: Isolation Of Dormant Germinated Spores and Vegetative Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The wet spore densities of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus stearothermophilus (smooth colony) have been previously determined by weighing a measured volume of spores (Beaman et al 1982). The density of spores of these species was also determined by centrifugal buoyancy sedimentation in Metrizamide or Renografin gradients (Tisa et al 1982) and in Nycodenz gradients (Cazemier et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The density of spores of these species was also determined by centrifugal buoyancy sedimentation in Metrizamide or Renografin gradients (Tisa et al 1982) and in Nycodenz gradients (Cazemier et al 2001). The wet density of spores determined by weighing a measured volume of spores (Beaman et al 1982) did not correlate well with determination in either Metrizamide or Renografin gradients (Tisa et al 1982). It was demonstrated that Metrizamide and Renorafin partially permeated the spores, making the data obtained in these gradients inaccurate (Tisa et al 1982).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides affecting the aerodynamic behaviour of aerosolized spores, density has been shown to correlate with inactivation of spores by heat (Beaman et al 1982) and with resistance to inactivation by radiation (Beaman et al 1982;Nicholson et al 2000). In spite of its relevance to human and veterinary health, as well as to biodefense, the density of virulent B. anthracis spores has not been established, nor compared with other Bacillus spores commonly used as simulants of B. anthracis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wet and dry density ofBacillus anthracisand otherBacillusspecies

Carrera

Zandomeni

Sagripanti

2008

Journal of Applied Microbiology

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Aims: To determine the wet and dry density of spores of Bacillus anthracis and compare these values with the densities of other Bacillus species grown and sporulated under similar conditions. Methods and Results: We prepared and studied spores from several Bacillus species, including four virulent and three attenuated strains of B. anthracis, two Bacillus species commonly used to simulate B. anthracis (Bacillus atrophaeus and Bacillus subtilis) and four close neighbours (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus stearothermophilus), using identical media, protocols and instruments. We determined the wet densities of all spores by measuring their buoyant density in gradients of Percoll and their dry density in gradients of two organic solvents, one of high and the other of low chemical density. The wet density of different strains of B. anthracis fell into two different groups. One group comprised strains of B. anthracis producing spores with densities between 1AE162 and 1AE165 g ml )1 and the other group included strains whose spores showed higher density values between 1AE174 and 1AE186 g ml )1 . Both Bacillus atrophaeus and B. subtilis were denser than all the B. anthracis spores studied. Interestingly and in spite of the significant differences in wet density, the dry densities of all spore species and strains were similar. In addition, we correlated the spore density with spore volume derived from measurements made by electron microscopy analysis. There was a strong correlation (R 2 = 0AE95) between density and volume for the spores of all strains and species studied. Conclusions: The data presented here indicate that the two commonly used simulants of B. anthracis, B. atrophaeus and B. subtilis were considerably denser and smaller than all B. anthracis spores studied and hence, these simulants could behave aerodynamically different than B. anthracis. Bacillus thuringiensis had spore density and volume within the range observed for the various strains of B. anthracis. The clear correlation between wet density and volume of the B. anthracis spores suggest that mass differences among spore strains may be because of different amounts of water contained within wet dormant spores. Significance and Impact of the Study: Spores of nonvirulent Bacillus species are often used as simulants in the development and testing of countermeasures for biodefense against B. anthracis. The similarities and difference in density and volume that we found should assist in the selection of simulants that better resemble properties of B. anthracis and, thus more accurately represent the performance of countermeasures against this threat agent where spore density, size, volume, mass or related properties are relevant.

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“…Density of Bacillus anthracis spores spores grown in a (potato infusion) medium different than the one used here (Beaman et al 1982).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Isolation Of Dormant Germinated Spores and Vegetative Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%