title: Effect of the osmotic conditions during sporulation on the subsequent resistance of bacterial spores.
abstract: The causes of Bacillus spore resistance remain unclear. Many structures including a highly compact envelope, low hydration of the protoplast, high concentrations of Ca-chelated dipicolinic acid, and the presence of small acid-soluble spore proteins seem to contribute to resistance. To evaluate the role of internal protoplast composition and hydration, spores of Bacillus subtilis were produced at different osmotic pressures corresponding to water activities of 0.993 (standard), 0.970, and 0.950, using the two depressors (glycerol or NaCl). Sporulation of Bacillus subtilis was slower and reduced in quantity when the water activity was low, taking 4, 10, and 17 days for 0.993, 0.970, and 0.950 water activity, respectively. The spores produced at lower water activity were smaller and could germinate on agar medium at lower water activity than on standard spores. They were also more sensitive to heat (97 degrees C for 5-60 min) than the standard spores but their resistance to high hydrostatic pressure (350 MPa at 40 degrees C for 20 min to 4 h) was not altered. Our results showed that the water activity of the sporulation medium significantly affects spore properties including size, germination capacity, and resistance to heat but has no role in bacterial spore resistance to high hydrostatic pressure.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés Microbiologiques et Alimentaires, ENSBANA, Université de Bourgogne, 1 Esplanade Erasme, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Hue
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nguyen Thi Minh
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guyot
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Perrier-Cornet
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gervais
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D050296:Microbial Viability; D009995:Osmosis; D011312:Pressure; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D005990:Glycerol