The document discusses bacterial endospores. Endospores are resistant structures formed by some bacteria, like Clostridium and Bacillus, to survive adverse conditions. They provide resistance to heat, drying, radiation, and chemicals. Specific endospore proteins and calcium-dipicolinic acid complexes help dehydrate and stabilize the DNA in the core. Not all bacteria can form endospores. The shape and location of endospores can help identify bacteria. Some endospore-forming bacteria can cause diseases like botulism and tetanus.

1. BACTERIAL
ENDOSPORES
Dr. P. Saranraj

2. BACTERIAL ENDOSPORES
 Endospores are the resisting structures formed by
bacteria for survival during adverse environmental
condition.
 Endospores differ significantly from the vegetative
and normal functioning of cells.
 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 – Dipicolinic acid complexes reduces water
available and helps to dehydrate spores.
 Interculates into the DNA and stabilizes it to heat
denaturation.
 Small Acid Soluble Proteins (SASPs)
 Bind to the DNA in the core and protect it from damage.
 Function as a carbon and energy source when forming
vegetative cells to spore cells.

4. NOT ALL BACTERIAL SPECIES CAN FORM
SPORES
 A few genera of bacteria produce Endospore
such as Clostridium (Gangrene) and Bacillus
(Anthrax), both of them are Gram + rods
(Endospore production is associated with
Gram Positive bacteria)
 Since not all bacteria form Endospores, we
can use this as an identification factor.

5. THE SHAPE OF THE SPORE IS AN
IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTIC
 Swelled vs. Not swelled
spore
Bacterial cell spore
Bacterial cell

6. LOCATION OF THE SPORES
 Central, Sub-Terminal, and Terminal spores

8. SOME SPORE FORMING BACTERIA ARE
CAPABLE OF CAUSING DISEASE
 Clostridium botulinum – Botulism
 Clostridium perfingens – Gas gangrene
 Clostridium tetani – Tetanus
 Bacillus anthrasis – Woolsorter’s Disease and
Wound infections
 The Schaeffer-Fulton Stain Procedure is used to
differentiate between endospores and vegetative
cells

9. ENDOSPORE STAINING