Mechanisms of killing of Bacillus subtilis spores by Decon and Oxone, two general decontaminants for biological agents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the mechanisms of Bacillus subtilis spore killing by and resistance to the general biological decontamination agents, Decon and Oxone.


RESULTS
Spores of B. subtilis treated with Decon or Oxone did not accumulate DNA damage and were not mutagenized. Spore killing by these agents was increased if spores were decoated. Spores prepared at higher temperatures were more resistant to these agents, consistent with a major role for spore coats in this resistance. Neither Decon nor Oxone released the spore core's depot of dipicolinic acid (DPA), but Decon- and Oxone-treated spores more readily released DPA upon a subsequent normally sublethal heat treatment. Decon- and Oxone-killed spores initiated germination with dodecylamine more rapidly than untreated spores, but could not complete germination triggered by nutrients or Ca(2+)-DPA and did not degrade their peptidoglycan cortex. However, lysozyme treatment did not recover these spores.


CONCLUSIONS
Decon and Oxone do not kill B. subtilis spores by DNA damage, and a major factor in spore resistance to these agents is the spore coat. Spore killing by both agents renders spores defective in germination, possibly because of damage to the inner membrane of spore.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide information on the mechanisms of the killing of bacterial spores by Decon and Oxone.
Young
S B
SB
Department of Biochemistry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032-3305, USA.
Setlow
P
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D000588:Amines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003666:Decontamination; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016296:Mutagenesis / Q000502:physiology; D010848:Picolinic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D000588:Amines; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D010848:Picolinic Acids; D013464:Sulfuric Acids; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C485967:decon decontaminant; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C048813:potassium peroxymonosulfuric acid; C004860:dipicolinic acid; C003935:dodecylamine