Physical Surface Features and Chemical Density of Dry Bacterial Spores

Berlin, Elliott; Curran, Harold R.; Pallansch, M.J.

doi:10.1128/jb.86.5.1030-1036.1963

Cited by 21 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The dry density that we obtained for B. subtilis and B. cereus is similar to the values previously reported by the helium-displacement method of 1AE409 and 1AE399 g ml )1 , respectively (Berlin et al 1963). The dry density of B. stearothermophilus that we determined (1AE40 ± 0AE02 g ml )1 ) agrees with the value of 1AE39 g ml )1 previously determined in Percoll (Tisa et al 1982) but disagrees with the density measured by helium displacement (1AE273 g ml )1 ; Berlin et al 1963). The wet density of B. stearothermophilus (1AE184 ± 0AE014 g ml )1 ) disagreed with the previously reported value of 1AE26 g ml )1 (Tisa et al 1982).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

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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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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…The dry density of spores of B. subtilis, B. stearothermophilus and B. cereus were determined by weighing a measured volume of spores (Beaman et al1982), by buoyancy in gradients of organic solvents (Tisa et al 1982) and by the helium displacement method (Berlin et al 1963).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wet and dry density ofBacillus anthracisand otherBacillusspecies

Carrera

Zandomeni

Sagripanti

2008

Journal of Applied Microbiology

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“…The estimate of the density of the spore dry matter is independent of the interstitial volume and indicates the relative high density of spore dry matter compared to the more typical figure of 1.333 (0.75 ml/g dry wt) for proteins and other types of cells. The result,s are in general agreement with those obtained by Berlin, Curran & Pallansch (1963) by a gas displacement technique and by Lewis, Snell & Alderton (1965) by a density gradient method, although some minor differences for individual species occur (Table 8).…”

Section: Analysis Of Variance: Degrees Of B-ratw Factor Freedom Wder supporting

confidence: 89%

(Symposium on Bacterial Spores : Paper IX). Biophysical Analysis of the Spore

Marshall

Murrell

1970

Journal of Applied Bacteriology

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“…peroxide sensitive sites) are masked. The gross structure may then be permeable and heteroporous, as detected by Gerhardt & Black (1961) and Berlin, Curran & Pallansch (1963), whilst still retaining compactness on the molecular scale. The additional sensitizing effect of reagents which rupture hydrogen bonds supports this explanation because, like reagents which rupture S-S bonds, they too loosen compact tertiary structures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Lysis of Bacterial Spores with Hydrogen Peroxide

King

Gould

1969

Journal of Applied Bacteriology

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Spores of Bacillus cweu.9 were made sensitive to lysis with H,O, by treatment with reagents which break disulphide bonds (e.g. thioglycollic acid), by incubation with reagents which break hydrogen bonds (e.g. urea and lithium bromide) or by incubation a t high temperatures. However, treated spores lost viability in the presence of H,O, at the same rate as did untreated spores. Lysis was optimal at high pH values and in the presence of metal ions, e.g. Cu2+, suggesting that lysis was caused by free radicals foimed by metal catalysed dtrcomposition of the peroxide. Isolated spore coats, in contrast to whole spores, were lysed by H,O,even whennot pretreated. and the immediate products of spore coat lysis wcre soluble proteins; on continued incubation with H,O, these proteins were degraded t o low MW peptides and amino acids. It appeared that whole spores resisted lysis because peroxide sensitive bonds were masked by compact tertiary molecular structures, rind that the sensitizing agents were able to loosen these structures xnfficient,ly to pxpose bonds sensitive to H,O,.

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Physical Surface Features and Chemical Density of Dry Bacterial Spores

Cited by 21 publications

References 16 publications

Wet and dry density ofBacillus anthracisand otherBacillusspecies

Wet and dry density ofBacillus anthracisand otherBacillusspecies

(Symposium on Bacterial Spores : Paper IX). Biophysical Analysis of the Spore

Lysis of Bacterial Spores with Hydrogen Peroxide

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