M2:T7: survival of microbes

• endospores

  • most important for prokaryotes survival
  • structure in vegative cells
  • dormant differentiated cells
  • resistant to extreme heat, radiation and chemicals
• why are endospores important

  1. food industry
  2. food poisoning
  3. wound infections
  4. bioterrorism
  5. pesticides
• what is the process if cells are unfavourable condition

  1. produce spore
  2. cell wall dies and spore is release
  3. until conditions are favourable
• explain structure and reistance of spore

  • increase [] of calcium dipicolonic acid and binding proteins stabilises and protects DNA
  • cortext removes water from interior
  • spore coat: impermeable and resistance in boiling water
• cysts vs storage bodies

  cysts: dormat thick walled forms, resist desiccation and dehydration but not heat

  storage bodies: inclusion oldies of bacteria which store chemicals for later use
• how to show bacterium produces endospore

  1. test heat resistance 90-100
  2. strain with green
• inclusion body 


  suflur or polysacc granules for storing nutrients