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Germination of Bacterial Spores by Long-Chain Alkyl Amines

Nature volume 188, pages 1132–1134 (1960)Cite this article

Abstract

SURFACE-ACTIVE agents induce striking changes in the physical, chemical and biological properties of bacterial spores1,2. The alterations caused by selected quaternary ammonium compounds are relatively minor at room temperature, but rapid and large at 50–100° C. The changes in spores of Bacillus megaterium brought about by combinations of mild heat and the quaternary ammonium compounds studied were practically identical with germinative changes induced by L-alanine and inosine3,4 except that the cells treated with surfactants were non-viable2. In all probability this class of surfactants induced germination, the germinated spores being hypersensitive to the concentrations of surfactants required for germination and being killed immediately on germination.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, The University of Texas, Austin, 12, Texas

    L. J. RODE & J. W. FOSTER

Authors
  1. L. J. RODE
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  2. J. W. FOSTER
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RODE, L., FOSTER, J. Germination of Bacterial Spores by Long-Chain Alkyl Amines. Nature 188, 1132–1134 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/1881132b0

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