Bacterial Endospores
Several environmental factors affecting the growth and survival of bacteria, temperature is one of them. Some bacteria develop sporulation strategies to ensure survival during adverse environmental conditions such as nutrient limitation, heat, and desiccation.
After the process of sporulation, bacterial endospores remain in a dormant, metabolically inert state. The endospores are simplified forms of bacteria, consisting of the DNA genome, some small amount of cytoplasm and all have high, but very wide-ranging, resistance to heat, radiation and another harsh external conditions. The resistance of endospores is attributed to their layered structure, their dehydrated state, their negligible metabolic activity, their high levels of small acid-soluble proteins and their high content of dipicolinic acid.
The genera of bacteria that contain endospore-forming species are Bacillus (Bacillus anthracis - Antrax) and Clostridium spp (botulism, tetanus, etc.).
References:
Cristopher K. Cote. Molecular Microbiology. 2nd ed. 2015
P J Quinn. Veterinary Microbiology and Microbial Disease. 2nd ed. Wiley-Blackwell. 2011.
Recommended Links:
Merk Veterinary Manual
Overview of Anthrax
Overview of Clostridial Diseases in Animals
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