The effect of hydrogen peroxide on spores of Clostridium bifermentans

The effect of hydrogen peroxide on the germination, colony formation and structure of spores of Clostridium bifermentans was examined. Treatment with 0.35 M-hydrogen peroxide increased the germination rate at 25 degrees C but increasing the temperature or concentration of hydrogen peroxide decreased both the germination rate and colony formation. The presence of Cu2+ increased the lethal effect of hydrogen peroxide on colony formation as much as 3000-fold. Pre-incubation of spores with Cu2+ before treatment with hydrogen peroxide produced a similar increase, but this could be eliminated by washing the spores with dilute spores--apparently from the coat--and treatment with dithiothreitol, which also removes spore-coat protein, increased the lethal effect of hydrogen peroxide 500-fold, suggesting that spore-coat protein has a protective effect against hydrogen peroxide.