Endospores and mechanisms of resistance

 Image created by Tim Sandle

Endospores present a concern in controlled environments due to their resistance and indefinite survivability. The production of a spore is part of a sophisticated stress response. Here, the bacterial genome is copied and transferred into the safety of a spore (sporulation).

The spore remains dormant until environmental conditions improve. When conditions are favorable, the spore will germinate (generally rapidly) and become a functioning, vegetative cell.

This week’s article looks at what endospores are, how they are formed, and their relative resistance as part of improving our understanding of contamination control.

See:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/resistance-so-futile-endospores-mechanisms-tim-sfaxe/  

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)