Endospores

Bacterial Endospores

1. BACTERIAL
ENDOSPORES
Dr. P. Saranraj

2. BACTERIALENDOSPORES
Endosporesaretheresistingstructuresformedby
bacteriaforsurvivalduringadverseenvironmental
condition.
Endosporesdiffersignificantlyfromthevegetative
andnormalfunctioningofcells.
Endospores provide resistance against
Heat
Drying
Low nutrient conditions
Radiation
Osmotic pressure
Various chemical disinfectants

3. SPORE PROTEINS
Dipicolinic acid
Located in the core
Calcium–Dipicolinicacidcomplexesreduceswater
availableandhelpstodehydratespores.
InterculatesintotheDNAandstabilizesittoheat
denaturation.
Small Acid Soluble Proteins (SASPs)
Bind to the DNA in the core and protect it from damage.
Functionasacarbonandenergysourcewhenforming
vegetativecellstosporecells.

4. NOTALLBACTERIALSPECIESCANFORM
SPORES
AfewgeneraofbacteriaproduceEndospore
suchasClostridium(Gangrene)andBacillus
(Anthrax),bothofthemareGram+rods
(Endosporeproductionisassociatedwith
GramPositivebacteria)
SincenotallbacteriaformEndospores,we
canusethisasanidentificationfactor.

5. THESHAPEOFTHESPOREISAN
IDENTIFYINGCHARACTERISTIC
Swelled vs. Not swelled
spore
Bacterial cell
spore
Bacterial cell

6. LOCATIONOFTHESPORES
Central, Sub-Terminal, and Terminal spores

8. SOMESPOREFORMINGBACTERIAARE
CAPABLEOFCAUSINGDISEASE
Clostridiumbotulinum–Botulism
Clostridiumperfingens–Gasgangrene
Clostridiumtetani–Tetanus
Bacillusanthrasis–Woolsorter’sDiseaseand
Woundinfections
TheSchaeffer-FultonStainProcedureisusedto
differentiatebetweenendosporesandvegetative
cells

9. ENDOSPORESTAINING