title: Presence and function of a thick mucous layer rich in polysaccharides around Bacillus subtilis spores.
abstract: This study was designed to establish the presence and function of the mucous layer surrounding spores of Bacillus subtilis. First, an external layer of variable thickness and regularity was often observed on B. subtilis spores. Further analyses were performed on B. subtilis 98/7 spores surrounded by a thick layer. The mechanical removal of the layer did not affect their resistance to heat or their ability to germinate but rendered the spore less hydrophilic, more adherent to stainless steel, and more resistant to cleaning. This layer was mainly composed of 6-deoxyhexoses, ie rhamnose, 3-O-methyl-rhamnose and quinovose, but also of glucosamine and muramic lactam, known also to be a part of the bacterial peptidoglycan. The specific hydrolysis of the peptidoglycan using lysozyme altered the structure of the required mucous layer and affected the physico-chemical properties of the spores. Such an outermost mucous layer has also been seen on spores of B. licheniformis and B. clausii isolated from food environments.
authors.affiliation: a INRA, UR638 Interface Processes and Hygiene of Materials , F-59651 Villeneuve d'Ascq , France.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Faille
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ronse
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dewailly
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Slomianny
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Krzewinski
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guerardel
mesh_terms: D001407:Bacillus / Q000502:physiology; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000502:physiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D057219:Biofouling; D009093:Mucus / Q000502:physiology*; D013170:Spores / Q000502:physiology; D013499:Surface Properties
keywords: Bacillus subtilis spore; adhesion; mucous layer; physico-chemistry; saccharidic composition