Incorporating germination-induction into decontamination strategies for bacterial spores
L J Kohler1, A V Quirk1, S L Welkos1
1Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, MD, USA.
Journal of Applied Microbiology
|October 6, 2017
Summary
Bacterial spores can be inactivated by inducing germination and then treating them. This review explores the effectiveness and implementation of germination-induction for decontamination in various settings.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Bacterial spores exhibit extreme resistance to environmental conditions.
- Germination, triggered by specific molecules, increases spore susceptibility to inactivation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review bacterial spore germination mechanisms.
- To discuss the evolution and implementation of germination-induction as a decontamination strategy.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on bacterial spore germination.
- Analysis of germination-induction strategies and their application.
Main Results:
- Germination-induction followed by inactivation is an effective decontamination principle.
- Implementation in real-world scenarios faces challenges but shows promise.
Conclusions:
- Germination-induction offers a viable decontamination strategy for bacterial spores.
- Further implementation is explored for biodefense, healthcare, and food manufacturing.
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