title: The preparation, germination properties and stability of superdormant spores of Bacillus cereus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine yields, germination and stability of superdormant Bacillus cereus spores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Superdormant B. cereus spores were isolated by germination with high concentrations of inosine or L-alanine in 2-5% yield and did not germinate with high concentrations of either of these germinants, but germinated like starting spores with Ca-DPA, dodecylamine, L-alanine plus inosine or concentrated complete medium. Yields of superdormant spores from germinations with low inosine concentrations were higher, and these spores germinated poorly with low inosine, but relatively normally with high inosine. Yields of superdormant spores were also higher when nonheat-activated spores were germinated. Superdormant spores stored at 4 degrees C slowly recovered some germination capacity, but recovery was slowed significantly at -20 degrees C and -80 degrees C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors that influence levels of superdormant B. cereus spores and the properties of such spores are similar to those in B. megaterium and B. subtilis, suggesting there are common mechanisms involved in superdormancy of Bacillus spores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Superdormant spores are a major concern in the food industry, because the presence of such spores precludes decontamination strategies based on triggering spore germination followed by mild killing treatments. Studies of the properties of superdormant spores may suggest ways to eliminate them.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Microbial and Structural Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030-3305, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Setlow
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine; D000588:Amines; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D003470:Culture Media; D007288:Inosine; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D003470:Culture Media; D007288:Inosine; D000409:Alanine; C003935:dodecylamine