Mechanisms of Bacterial Spore Survival
Mario Pedraza-Reyes, Norma Ramírez-Ramírez, Luz E. Vidales-Rodríguez and Eduardo A. Robleto
from: Bacterial Spores: Current Research and Applications (Edited by: Ernesto Abel-Santos). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2012)
Abstract
Sporulation is the process by which a spore is formed and is generally induced when microorganism of the Bacilli and Clostridia genus are challenged by nutritional stress. Spores of Bacillus species contaminate food and other products of human consumption compromising health. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in long-term survival is important to develop rational strategies for spore killing. Spores can survive for extended periods of time and possess the ability to return to life if nutrients become available. For decades bacterial spores have served as extraordinary paradigms to understand the consequences of long-term exposure to environmental factors that potentially compromise cell viability. This special type of cells can withstand a wide range of assaults that would otherwise destroy its vegetative cell counterparts. Spores of the genus Bacillus are several times more resistant to heat, desiccation, UV-C light, oxidizing chemicals and other genotoxic drugs. The particular cell architecture of spores and multiple mechanisms to protect its genome from citotoxic and genotoxic factors explain in great part such resistance. The present chapter will describe the processes underlying the capability of the genus Bacillus spores to survive under extreme conditions read more ...
