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Updated: May 16, 2026

Physical Isolation of Endospores from Environmental Samples by Targeted Lysis of Vegetative Cells
Published on: January 21, 2016
Bacillus subtilis endospores at high purity and recovery yields: optimization of growth conditions and purification
Milene B Tavares1, Renata D Souza, Wilson B Luiz
1Vaccine Development Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil.
Abstract:
Bacillus subtilis endospores have applications in different fields including their use as probiotics and antigen delivery vectors. Such specialized applications frequently require highly purified spore preparations. Nonetheless, quantitative data regarding both yields and purity of B. subtilis endospores after application of different growth conditions and purification methods are scarce or poorly reported. In the present study, we conducted several quantitative and qualitative analyses of growth conditions and purification procedures aiming generation of purified B. subtilis spores. Based on two growth media and different incubations conditions, sporulation frequencies up to 74.2 % and spore concentrations up to 7 × 10(9) spores/ml were achieved. Application of a simplified spore isolation method, in which samples were incubated with lysozyme and a detergent, resulted in preparations with highly purified spores at the highest yields. The present study represents, therefore, an important contribution for those working with B. subtilis endospores for different biotechnological purposes.
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