Reversible Inhibition of Spore Germination by Alcohols 1

Trujillo, Ralph; Laible, Nancy J.

doi:10.1128/aem.20.4.620-623.1970

Cited by 29 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…2a; Table 1). Inhibition by these alcohols was reversible (data not shown), as found previously (Trujillo and Laible 1970). The inhibition of spore germination by alkyl alcohols was also seen with spores carrying high levels of the GerA receptor that are hypersensitive to germination with L L-alanine (Cabrera-Martinez et al 2003) and was not reduced by addition of 100-400 mmol l )1 NaCl or KCl (Table 1) or with fourfold higher concentrations of L L-alanine (data not shown).…”

Section: Effect Of Alkyl Alcohols O-chlorocresol and Octanoic Acid Osupporting

confidence: 85%

Analysis of the action of compounds that inhibit the germination of spores of Bacillus species

Cortezzo

Setlow

2004

J Appl Microbiol

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Aims: To determine the mechanism of action of inhibitors of the germination of spores of Bacillus species, and where these inhibitors act in the germination process. Methods and Results: Spores of various Bacillus species are significant agents of food spoilage and foodborne disease, and inhibition of spore germination is a potential means of reducing such problems. Germination of the following spores was studied: (i) wild-type B. subtilis spores; (ii) B. subtilis spores with a nutrient receptor variant allowing recognition of a novel germinant; (iii) B. subtilis spores with elevated levels of either the variant nutrient receptor or its wild-type allele; (iv) B. subtilis spores lacking all nutrient receptors and (v) wild-type B. megaterium spores. Spores were germinated with a variety of nutrient germinants, Ca 2+ -dipicolinic acid (DPA) and dodecylamine for B. subtilis spores, and KBr for B. megaterium spores. Compounds tested as inhibitors of germination included alkyl alcohols, a phenol derivative, a fatty acid, ion channel blockers, enzyme inhibitors and several other compounds. Assays used to assess rates of spore germination monitored: (i) the fall in optical density at 600 nm of spore suspensions; (ii) the release of the dormant spore's large depot of DPA; (iii) hydrolysis of the dormant spore's peptidoglycan cortex and (iv) generation of CFU from spores that lacked all nutrient receptors. The results with B. subtilis spores allowed the assignment of inhibitory compounds into two general groups: (i) those that inhibited the action of, or response to, one nutrient receptor and (ii) those that blocked the action of, or response to, several or all of the nutrient receptors. Some of the compounds in groups 1 and 2 also blocked action of at least one cortex lytic enzyme, however, this does not appear to be the primary site of their action in inhibiting spore germination. The inhibitors had rather different effects on germination of B. subtilis spores with nutrients or non-nutrients, consistent with previous work indicating that germination of B. subtilis spores by nonnutrients does not involve the spore's nutrient receptors. In particular, none of the compounds tested inhibited spore germination with dodecylamine, and only three compounds inhibited Ca 2+ -DPA germination. In contrast, all compounds had very similar effects on the germination of B. megaterium spores with either glucose or KBr. The effects of the inhibitors tested on spores of both Bacillus species were largely reversible. Conclusions: This work indicates that inhibitors of B. subtilis spore germination fall into two classes: (i) compounds (most alkyl alcohols, N-ethylmaleimide, nifedipine, phenols, potassium sorbate) that inhibit the action of, or response to, primarily one nutrient receptor and (ii) compounds [amiloride, HgCl 2 , octanoic acid, octanol, phenylmethylsulphonylfluoride (PMSF), quinine, tetracaine, tosyl-L L-arginine methyl ester, trifluoperazine] that inhibit the action of, or response to, several nutrient receptors. Action of th...

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Section: Effect Of Alkyl Alcohols O-chlorocresol and Octanoic Acid Osupporting

confidence: 85%

Analysis of the action of compounds that inhibit the germination of spores of Bacillus species

Cortezzo

Setlow

2004

J Appl Microbiol

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“…Alcohols exhibit rapid broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against vegetative bacteria (including mycobacteria), viruses, and fungi but are not sporicidal. They are, however, known to inhibit sporulation and spore germination (545), but this effect is reversible (513). Because of the lack of sporicidal activity, alcohols are not recommended for sterilization but are widely used for both hard-surface disinfection and skin antisepsis.…”

Section: Alcoholsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antiseptics and Disinfectants: Activity, Action, and Resistance

McDonnell¹,

1999

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SUMMARY Antiseptics and disinfectants are extensively used in hospitals and other health care settings for a variety of topical and hard-surface applications. A wide variety of active chemical agents (biocides) are found in these products, many of which have been used for hundreds of years, including alcohols, phenols, iodine, and chlorine. Most of these active agents demonstrate broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity; however, little is known about the mode of action of these agents in comparison to antibiotics. This review considers what is known about the mode of action and spectrum of activity of antiseptics and disinfectants. The widespread use of these products has prompted some speculation on the development of microbial resistance, in particular whether antibiotic resistance is induced by antiseptics or disinfectants. Known mechanisms of microbial resistance (both intrinsic and acquired) to biocides are reviewed, with emphasis on the clinical implications of these reports.

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“…They indicated that antibacterial action of dihydric alcohols was influenced both by carbon chain length and by hydroxyl group position. Trujillo and Laible (1970) demonstrated that the inhibition of spore germination by alcohol was reversible. They found that low levels of alcohols inhibited the process of spore germination of B. subtilis var.…”

Section: Simple and Complex Alcoholsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food Preservation With Nontraditional Antimicrobial Agents

Shibasaki

1982

Journal of Food Safety

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Reversible Inhibition of Spore Germination by Alcohols 1

Cited by 29 publications

References 5 publications

Analysis of the action of compounds that inhibit the germination of spores of Bacillus species

Analysis of the action of compounds that inhibit the germination of spores of Bacillus species

Antiseptics and Disinfectants: Activity, Action, and Resistance

Food Preservation With Nontraditional Antimicrobial Agents

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