title: Effect of animal sera on Bacillus anthracis Sterne spore germination and vegetative cell growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this work were to investigate the effects of sera on B. anthracis Sterne germination and growth. Sera examined included human, monkey and rabbit sera, as well as sera from eight other species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Standard dilution plate assay (with and without heat kill) was used as a measure of germination, and spectroscopy was used to measure growth. In addition, a Coulter Counter particle counter was used to monitor germination and growth based on bacterial size. Spores germinated best in foetal bovine and monkey sera, moderately with human sera and showed limited germination in the presence of rabbit or rat sera. Vegetative bacteria grew best in foetal bovine sera and moderately in rabbit sera. Human and monkey sera supported little growth of vegetative bacteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggested sera can have a significant impact on germination and growth of Sterne bacteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data should be considered when conducting in vitro cell culture studies and may aid in interpreting in vivo infection studies.
authors.affiliation: Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch-Z21, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, VA, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bensman
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Mackie
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Minter
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Gutting
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000254:growth & development*; D002417:Cattle; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D011817:Rabbits; D044967:Serum; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media