Chemical states of bacterial spores: dry-heat resistance

Abstract

Mature bacterial spores can be manipulated by chemical pretreatments between states sensitive and resistant to dry heat. The two chemical forms of the spore differ in dry-heat resistance by about an order of magnitude. Log survivor curves for each chemical state were approximately straight lines. The temperature dependence of dry-heat resistance for each chemical state was similar to that usually found for dry-heat resistance. A method of testing spore resistance to dry heat has been designed to minimize artifacts resulting from (i) change of chemical state during the test, (ii) effects of water vapor activity, (iii) incomplete recovery of spores from the test container and clumping of spores. Implications of the existence of different chemical resistance states for experimental strategy and testing of dry-heat resistance are discussed.