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Mechanism of killing of spores of B acillus anthracis in a high‐temperature gas environment, and analysis of DNA damage generated by various decontamination treatments of spores of B acillus anthracis , B acillus subtilis and B acillus thuringiensis
Author(s) -
Setlow B.,
Parish S.,
Zhang P.,
Li Y.Q.,
Neely W.C.,
Setlow P.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.12421
Subject(s) - bacillus anthracis , spore , bacillus subtilis , desiccation , dipicolinic acid , microbiology and biotechnology , germination , bacillus (shape) , endospore , biology , mutagenesis , bacillus thuringiensis , bacillales , bacillaceae , bacteria , botany , biochemistry , mutant , genetics , gene
Abstract Aims To determine how hydrated B acillus anthracis spores are killed in a high‐temperature gas environment ( HTGE ), and how spores of several B acillus species including B . anthracis are killed by UV radiation, dry heat, wet heat and desiccation. Methods and Results Hydrated B . anthracis spores were HTGE treated at c . 220°C for 50 ms, and the treated spores were tested for germination, mutagenesis, rupture and loss of dipicolinic acid. Spores of this and other B acillus species were also examined for mutagenesis by UV , wet and dry heat and desiccation. There was no rupture of HTGE ‐treated B . anthracis spores killed 90–99·9%, no mutagenesis, and release of DPA and loss of germination were much slower than spore killing. However, killing of spores of B . anthracis , B acillus thuringiensis and B acillus subtilis by UV radiation or dry heat, but not wet heat in water or ethanol, was accompanied by mutagenesis. Conclusions It appears likely that HTGE treatment kills B . anthracis spores by damage to spore core proteins. In addition, various killing regimens inactivate spores of a number of B acillus species by the same mechanisms. Significance and Impact of the Study This work indicates how hydrated spores treated in a HTGE such as might be used to destroy biological warfare agent stocks are killed. The work also indicates that mechanisms whereby different agents kill spores are similar with spores of different B acillus species.