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The Brownian diffusion of dormant and germinating spores of Bacillus megaterium
Author(s) -
Harding S. E.,
Johnson P.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of applied bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 0021-8847
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1986.tb01077.x
Subject(s) - spore , bacillus megaterium , germination , dormancy , endospore , diffusion , bacterial spore , biology , botany , thermodynamics , physics , bacteria , genetics
Light scattering techniques provide a non‐destructive probe into structural aspects concerning the dormancy, heat resistance and germination of bacterial spores. Quasi‐elastic light scattering techniques are applied to a study of the diffusion and scaling properties of dormant and germinating Bacillus megaterium spores (strain KM). A translational coefficient of (5.01 ± 0.10) × 10 ‐9 cm 2 /s is obtained for the dormant spore, with little apparent change during the early stages of germination. Dormant and germinated spores, however, give different scaling characteristics. The significance of these observations in terms of theories concerning the dormancy and heat resistance of spores is discussed.