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Production of aseptic spores of vesicular-arbuscular endophytes and their viability after chemical and physical stress.

The survival of germinating spores of vesicular-arbuscular endophytes after treatments with oxidizing agents, antibiotics, moist heat, ultrasonic radiation, and ultraviolet radiation was compared with that of their contaminating microbes. Spores of three species were rapidly decontaminated by treatment with 0.42% (wt/vol) chlorine available from 5.0% (wt/vol) chloramine-T at 30 degrees C for 20 to 40 min depending on the species and the soil from which they were extracted. This treatment did not change spore viability. The survival of spores was reduced by exposure for 20 min to 1.11% chlorine at 30 degrees C for Glomus caledonius or at 35 degrees C for Acaulospora laevis. Growth of any bacteria surviving treatment with oxidizing agents was inhibited by 100 mug of chloramphenicol per ml in agar; however, spore germination and germ tube growth were reduced only by concentrations greater than 200 mug/ml in agar. Spore germination was decreased by concentration of pimaracin, which controlled fungal growth. The spores survived moist heat at 40 degrees C for 80 min, 55 degrees C for 10 min, and 60 degrees C for less than 1 min. The viability of spores was unaffected by ultrasonic irradiation for up to 4 min. Spores of G. caledonius and A. laevis were extremely resistant to ultraviolet radiation. Their viability was unaffected by exposure to 5 x 10 ergs cm from an ultraviolet source of 253.7nm. The spores had very thick, pigmented walls, and the possibility that these provided some protection against the physical and chemical treatments is discussed. The degree of physiological damage to the spores caused by the treatments demonstrated some adverse effects of basic laboratory procedures. This information, together with that on the comparative sensitivity of contaminating microbes to the treatments, was used in the development of protocol for producing large numbers of uncontaminated spores.

Journal Article↗

Persistence of Nosema locustae Spores in Soil as Determined by Fluorescence Microscopy.

Nosema locustae, a protozoan parasite of grasshoppers, is used as a bioinsecticide. In the present study, the persistence of N. locustae spores in soil and the interaction of these spores with the indigenous soil microflora were examined with various forms of microscopy and staining. Fluorescence microscopy was found to be better than phase-contrast or bright-field microscopy for detecting and viewing spores in soil. Fluorescein isothiocyanate was a better fluorescent stain than acridine orange or fluorescein diacetate; water-soluble aniline blue did not stain spores. The eight bright-field microscopy stains tested (phenolic erythrosin, phenolic rose bengal, malachite green, crystal violet, safranin, Congo red, methyl red, and eosin B) were not satisfactory, as spore staining characteristics were either poor or masked by overstained soil debris. A procedure was developed which allowed spores to be extracted from soil with a peptone-phosphate buffer, recovered on a membrane filter, and stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate for microscopic counting. This procedure was used to assess the persistence of N. locustae spores in field and laboratory soils. The number of N. locustae spores in a laboratory model soil system persisted at a high level for over 8 weeks when the soil was incubated at 5 degrees C but exhibited a 1,000-fold decrease after 1 week of incubation at 27 degrees C. Persistence was related to the temperature-dependent activity of the indigenous soil microflora, which, on the basis of microscopic observations, appeared to prey on N. locustae spores. N. locustae spores were detected in an N. locustae-treated field soil at a low level consistent with the level for laboratory soil incubated at 27 degrees C, and they persisted at this level for over 2 months. No spores were detected on vegetation from this field or in the soil from an adjacent, nontreated control field. N. locustae-like spores were also detected in soil from nontreated fields supporting large grasshopper populations.

Journal Article↗

Mechanism of the Heat Sensitization of Bacillus subtilis Spores by Ethidium Bromide.

Pretreatment with ethidium bromide (5 mug/ml) followed by a water wash had no effect on unheated Bacillus subtilis spores, but the viability of these spores after heating was much lower than that of similarly heated spores exposed to water alone. The fate of water- or ethidium bromide-treated spores, unheated or heated, was followed by allowing them to germinate and outgrow in a minimal or a complex liquid medium. Spores exposed to ethidium bromide and then heated (85 degrees C, 10 min) exhibited a developmental block during germination and outgrowth. Many of them were blocked at the stage when the bacterium emerged from the germinated spore. When 0.35 mug of ethidium bromide per ml was added to heated spores in the germination-growth medium, the outgrowth of heated spores was inhibited to the same extent as were pretreated spores. Ethidium bromide acted in the first hour of germination of heated spores since addition after this time was ineffective in inhibiting recovery events. Repair of heat-damaged spore DNA was detected during the first 2 h of germination. The addition of ethidium bromide (final concentration, 0.35 mug/ml) inhibited DNA repair during early outgrowth. Increased sensitivity of spores to heat after pretreatment with sublethal concentrations of ethidium bromide was due to the inhibition of the repair of heat-damaged DNA.

Journal Article↗

In vitro formation of resting spores by the insect pathogenic fungus Entomophaga maimaiga.

Field-collected resting spores (azygospores) of the fungal pathogen of Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth), Entomophaga maimaiga, have been used to release this biological control agent in areas where this pathogen is not established. We have found that E. maimaiga can produce resting spores in vitro using Grace's insect tissue culture medium (95%) plus fetal bovine serum (5%). The majority of spores become mature between 7 and 21 days after cultures are initiated. Spore production varies by fungal isolate; of 38 isolates tested, 10 produced no resting spores while 7 produced >1000 resting spores/ml. Resting spore production was not affected when isolates were mixed. Glycerol (used for fungal storage), trehalose, and selected amino acids each inhibited resting spore formation. Fetal bovine serum was required for spore production but the presence of >5% yielded lower resting spore densities. A large surface area:volume ratio (12.5 cm(2):ml versus 4.2 cm(2):ml) was required for abundant formation of resting spores. At present, resting spores have only been produced in small volumes with a maximum of 3 x 10(4) resting spores/ml.

Animals↗

Spore germination in Dictyostelium discoideum. II. Effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on post-activation lag as evidence for the multistate model of activation.

Mutant spores of Dictyostelium discoideum, strain SG-10, differ from wild type spores in their ability to spontaneously germinate, to be activated with 5% Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO), and to be deactivated with 0.2 M sucrose. Both heat-activated wild type and mutant spores began to swell after a lag of 60-75 min at ambient temperature. Suspension of heat activated spores in 5% DMSO resulted in blockage of spore swelling and a concomitant severe inhibition of respiration; removal of 5% DMSO allowed resumption of respiration and the spores began to swell after a lag of only 15 min. It was concluded that 5% DMSO allowed the early reactions (M) to proceed but blocked the later reactions (R) of post-activation lag. Treatment of one day old spores with 20% DMSO solution for 30-120 min quantitatively activated the population. The post-activation lag time was directly dependent on the time of 20% DMSO treatment. Spores activated with 20% DMSO treatment could be deactivated by incubation at 0 degrees C; the spores most quickly deactivated at 0 degrees C were those within 10 min of swelling. Mitochondrial transport inhibitors such as azide and cyanide caused deactivation in an analogous manner. It is hypothesized that spores proceed to the second portion of the lag phase called (R) before the environment determines if dormancy is reimposed or if germination will proceed. The sensitive strain (SG-10) showed a greater degree of "damage" than the wild type after supraoptimal treatment with 40% DMSO. The spores became more resistant with age to the "damaging" action of 40% DMSO. All the observed effects of DMSO treatment were compatible with our multistate model of activation which suggests that the early portion of the lag phase (M) may involve a relative uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation while the later portion (R) may require tight coupling.

Dictyostelium↗

Germination initiation and outgrowth of spores of Bacillus brevis strain Nagano and its gramicidin S-negative mutant.

Bacillus brevis strain Nagano and its gramicidin S-negative mutant, BI-7, were compared with respect to germination of their spores produced in several media. Germination initiation occurred in the presence of nutrient broth or L-alanine but not with inosine, glucose, glycerol or fructose; the process was activated by heat. Parental and mutant spores behaved similarly in these experiments. During outgrowth, parental spores remained in this phase of germination much longer than did mutant spores, but only when the parental spores had been harvested from a sporulation medium where significant gramicidin S synthesis had occurred. When parental spores were extracted or treated with an enzyme that hydrolyzes gramicidin S, rapid outgrowth occurred. Adding exogenous gramicidin S or the extract from parental spores to mutant spores lengthened the outgrowth in a dose-dependent manner. The uptake of labeled L-alanine by parental spores was delayed compared to mutant spores in the presence or absence of chloramphenicol. These data suggest a mechanism of action for gramicidin S whereby it interferes in membrane function, such as transport or energy metabolism, in outgrowing spores.

Alanine↗

Novel strains of Moorella thermoacetica form unusually heat-resistant spores.

Two strains of Moorella thermoacetica, JW/B-2 and JW/DB-4, isolated as contaminants from autoclaved media for chemolithoautotrophic growth containing 0.1% (wt/vol) yeast extract, formed unusually heat-resistant spores. Spores of the two strains required heat activation at 100 degrees C of more than 2 min and up to 90 min for maximal percentage of germination. Kinetic analysis indicated the presence of two distinct subpopulations of heat-resistant spores. The decimal reduction time (D10-time=time of exposure to reduce viable spore counts by 90%) at 121 degrees C was determined for each strain using spores obtained under different conditions. For strains JW/DB-2 and JW/ DB-4, respectively, spores obtained at approximately 25 degrees C from cells grown chemolithoautotrophically had D10-times of 43 min and 23 min; spores obtained at 60 degrees C from cells grown chemoorganoheterotrophically had D10-times of 44 min and 38 min; spores obtained at 60 degrees C from cells grown chemolithoautotrophically had D10-times of 83 min and 111 min. The thickness of the cortex varied between 0.10 and 0.29 microm and the radius of the cytoplasm from 0.14 to 0.46 microm. These spores are amongst the most heat-resistant noted to date. Electron microscopy revealed structures within the exosporia of spores prior to full maturity that were assumed to be layers of the outer spore coat.

Clostridium↗

Role of Alternaria and Penicillium spores in the pathogenesis of asthma.

The ability to harvest spore-rich isolates of molds permitted quantitative studies of their role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Alternaria and Penicillium were selected as examples of ubiquitous molds that readily induce IgE antibodies and are of contrasting sizes. Extracts from those spores were prepared for skin tests and aerosol bronchial challenges. Intact spores were used in the same subjects in bronchial challenges delivered by a Spinhaler. Seven patients with a history of mild asthma received a total of 16 bronchial challenges with the mold to which they had been sensitized. Provocative doses in spore equivalents for a 35% drop in SGaw, 20% drop in FEV1, or 25% drop in PEFR were sought for each challenge. Density dependence-flow rates were also determined. Environmental spore survey data were obtained and compared with the challenge doses for these spores. It was found that immediate-type asthma was readily provoked by both whole spores and by their extracts, in some subjects fewer intact than extracted spores were required, delayed-type asthma occurred only after whole spore challenges, SGaw was the most sensitive and equally specific of the pulmonary function tests, and provocative doses of spore equivalents were within natural exposure ranges. The study confirmed that Alternaria and Penicillium spores in relatively natural states and numbers were potent immunopathogens for asthma.

Adolescent↗

The use of chlorine dioxide to control Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores in aqueous suspension and on apples.

Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris, a thermoacidophilic, spore-forming bacterium, has been identified as a spoilage organism in commercial, pasteurized fruit juices. This study was undertaken to evaluate chlorine dioxide for reducing numbers of A. acidoterrestris spores on laboratory media and on apples. A. acidoterrestris spores in aqueous suspension and on apple surfaces of four different cultivars were treated with several concentrations of chlorine dioxide. Spores in aqueous suspension treated with 40 ppm for 5 min were reduced by more than 4 log. Treatment with 80 ppm for 1 min and 120 ppm for 30 s resulted in about 1.8 log and 4.8 log reductions of spore viability, respectively, and treatment at 80 and 120 ppm for 5 min reduced spore viability to undetectable levels (<0.7 log CFU/ml). When applied to the surfaces of four different apple cultivars ('Red Delicious', 'Golden Delicious', 'Gala', and 'Fuji'), 40 ppm free chlorine dioxide reduced A. acidoterrestris spore numbers by 1.5, 3.2, 4.5, >4.8 log after 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-min treatments, respectively. Spore numbers were reduced by >4.8 log with 120 ppm free chlorine dioxide after only 1-min treatment. However, there was no significant difference between apple cultivars (P>0.05) on spore reduction. These results show the great effectiveness of chlorine dioxide in controlling A. acidoterrestris spores both in aqueous suspension and on apple surfaces. There was no synergistic effect on spore reduction when chlorine dioxide treatment of aqueous suspension was followed by heat.

Beverages↗

Activity of bleach, ethanol and two commercial disinfectants against spores of Encephalitozoon cuniculi.

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a small protist parasite in the phylum Microspora. Hosts are infected by ingestion or inhalation of spores passed in the urine or feces. Infection with E. cuniculi is usually asymptomatic, except in young or immunocompromised hosts. This study examined the effects of various disinfectants on in vitro infectivity of E. cuniculi spores. Spores of E. cuniculi were exposed to several dilutions of commercial bleach, 70% ethanol and dilutions of commercial disinfectants HiTor and Roccal for 10 min and then loaded onto human fibroblast cells (Hs68 cells). Ten minutes of exposure to these disinfectants was lethal to E. cuniculi spores. Additional exposure time studies were done using dilutions of bleach at 0.1, 1 and 10%, and 70% ethanol. Exposure of E. cuniculi spores to 1 or 10% bleach for 30s rendered them non-infectious for Hs68 cells. Growth of E. cuniculi was observed in Hs68 cells inoculated with spores treated with 0.1% bleach for 30s or 1, 3 and 5 min, but not with spores treated for 7 min or longer. Exposure of E. cuniculi spores to 70% ethanol for 30s rendered them non-infectious for Hs68 cells. Spores of E. cuniculi are more sensitive to disinfectants than are coccidial oocysts and other parasite cysts. The relatively short contact time needed to kill spores indicates that disinfection of animal housing may be a viable means to reduce exposure of animals to E. cuniculi spores.

Animals↗

Combined effects of ionizing-irradiation and different environments on Clostridium botulinum type E spores.

We examined the combined effects of gamma-radiation (24 degrees C) on spores of Clostridium botulinum-type Eklund strain suspended in different gas-saturated Na-phosphate buffer in absence or presence of protectors or sensitizers. Response surface methodology (RSM) was also used to ascertain the effects of radiation on the recovery of spores using a medium containing various levels of NaCl or Na-thioglycollate. The former (< 0.5%) decreased viable spore counts, but the latter (0.15%) did not. Irradiation inactivation of Eklund spores was most effective in air-saturated buffers compared to N2O and N2 gas. The Na2-EDTA (0.01 M) was the most efficient radioprotector of spores due to its reactivity toward hydroxy radicals, followed by t-butanol (0.1 M) in NO2 or N(2)-saturated buffers, respectively. Catalase (10.0 mg ml(-1)) and DL-cysteine (0.1 mM) sensitized the spores during irradiated N2O or N(2)-saturated buffers, and NaCl (0.01 M) only sensitized spores in N2 environment. Spores frozen at -75 degrees C for 30 days and thawed prior to use were more sensitive to radiation damage compared to freshly prepared spores. Glycerol (15%), in Na-phosphate buffer (pH 7.0, 0.06 M), protected Eklund spores and increased the number of spores from 10(6) to 10(11) colony forming unit (CFU) ml(-1), and enhanced their radiosensitivities. Seven strains of C. botulinum type E were screened for plasmids and strain BL764 had two plasmids (15.8 and 46.8 mDa), BL4028 also had two (4.4 and 13.2 mDa), BL4850 contained only one (4.9 mDa), whereas EQA, BL211, Eklund, and Beluga had none. Gamma-Radiation (10 kGy, absorbed dose) cured the 15.8-mDa plasmid in strain BL764, but its absence yielded no changes in toxigenicity.

Clostridium botulinum↗

Architecture and high-resolution structure of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus spore coat surfaces.

We have utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize the native surface topography and ultrastructure of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus spores in water and in air. AFM was able to resolve the nanostructure of the exosporium and three distinctive classes of appendages. Removal of the exosporium exposed either a hexagonal honeycomb layer (B. thuringiensis) or a rodlet outer spore coat layer (B. cereus). Removal of the rodlet structure from B. cereus spores revealed an underlying honeycomb layer similar to that observed with B. thuringiensis spores. The periodicity of the rodlet structure on the outer spore coat of B. cereus was approximately 8 nm, and the length of the rodlets was limited to the cross-patched domain structure of this layer to approximately 200 nm. The lattice constant of the honeycomb structures was approximately 9 nm for both B. cereus and B. thuringiensis spores. Both honeycomb structures were composed of multiple, disoriented domains with distinct boundaries. Our results demonstrate that variations in storage and preparation procedures result in architectural changes in individual spore surfaces, which establish AFM as a useful tool for evaluation of preparation and processing "fingerprints" of bacterial spores. These results establish that high-resolution AFM has the capacity to reveal species-specific assembly and nanometer scale structure of spore surfaces. These species-specific spore surface structural variations are correlated with sequence divergences in a spore core structural protein SspE.

Air↗

Mechanism of the inactivation of bacterial spores by reciprocal pressurization treatment.

AIMS: The mechanism of the inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores by reciprocal pressurization (RP) was unclear. Therefore, the mechanism was investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate the effects of RP and continuous pressurization (CP) treatments on the inactivation and injury of B. subtilis spores, spores were treated at 25, 35, 45 and 55 degrees C under 200, 300 and 400 MPa. RP treatment was effective in injuring and inactivating spores. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observation showed that spores treated by RP treatment were more morphologically and structurally changed than the ones treated by CP treatment. There were significant differences between the release of dipicolinic acid (pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid) by RP and CP treatments. From this result, it was concluded that the core fraction was released into the spore suspension. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of RP treatment is believed to work as follows: hydrostatic pressure treatment initiated germination of bacterial spores, and the repeated rapid decompression caused disruption, injury and inactivation of the germinated spores. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study indicated that the physical injury of bacterial spores was effective to inactivate the bacterial spores through the disruption of spores and leakage of their contents.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Viability of Claviceps africana spores ingested by adult corn earworm moths, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

A study was conducted in College Station, TX, to determine the viability of Claviceps africana spores in the digestive tract of adult corn earworm moths, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). Both sexes were exposed to ergot-infected sorghum panicles for 30 min, and spores were recovered from excreta of the moths at 24-, 48-, and 72-h intervals after feeding. Recovered spores were quantified, and viability was determined by the germination rate of macroconidia. Nearly a 100-fold greater concentration of spores was recovered from female excreta at the three time intervals compared with male excreta. Concentration of spores in female and male excreta was greatest at 24 h, with a significant reduction at the later time intervals. Spore germination rates for both sexes were greater at 24 h, with survival being significantly reduced at the 72-h interval. Spores in female excreta survived longer than those from male excreta. Spore survival over time was significantly reduced in male excreta. Spore concentration and survival were greater from female excreta, which is key, because egg-laying activities on sorghum panicles intensify during flowering, and this source of ergot spores could contribute to the spread of the disease. This study demonstrates that corn earworm moths can internally carry viable ergot spores for several days and can act as primary dispersal agents for the fungus. This is important because contaminated moths migrating from areas in Mexico and southern Texas where ergot is endemic could transmit and spread the disease to other sorghum growing regions of the United States.

Animals↗

Properties of Hg- and Cd-spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551.

Hg- and Cd-spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 were produced in Schaeffer's medium containing mercuric chloride and cadmium chloride respectively. Metals were added to the medium at 9 hr of incubation (Stage V) to give a final concentration of 50 microM. It was found by electron microscopic and biochemical studies that the coats of both Hg- and Cd-spores were thinner than those of control spores. Of the total Hg and Cd in the spores, 77% of the Hg and 63% of the Cd were detected in the spore coats. Hg- and Cd-spores were less resistant to heat and more sensitive to germinants than control spores. Other properties of Hg- and Cd-spores were similar to those of control spores. These results suggest that the spore coat has some relationship to the heat resistance and germinability of spores.

Bacillus megaterium↗

Spore ornamentation of Haplosporidium pickfordi Barrow, 1961 (Haplosporidia), a parasite of freshwater snails in Michigan, USA.

Spore ornamentation is increasingly recognized as a key character for species differentiation and genus assignment in the phylum Haplosporidia. Unfortunately, spore ornamentation is known for only a small number of described species so it is difficult to assign most species to genera with any confidence. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the presence and morphology of spore ornamentation of Haplosporidium pickfordi collected from the digestive gland of the snail Physella parkeri in Douglas Lake, Michigan. Spores possess filaments that are derived from the spore wall and originate from two separate areas at the posterior end of the spore. When spores are first isolated from host tissue, filaments are fused into a sheet that wraps around the spore, passing under the opercular lid. These filaments gradually unravel when spores are held in water and after about 14 d most filaments project freely from the posterior end of the spore. The number of filaments could not be determined with certainty, but appears to be approximately nine. Filaments are 100 nm in diam. and up to 50 microm in length. The presence of spore wall-derived filaments confirms the placement of the parasite in the genus Haplosporidium.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibodies against spore antigens of Bacillus anthracis.

A murine monoclonal antibody produced against heat inactivated spores of Bacillus anthracis Ames, reacted with live or inactivated spores of several anthrax strains in indirect immunofluorescence (IF) tests. The reactive anthrax strain gave only a moderate degree of reaction. No staining of anthrax vegetative cells was observed. The monoclonal did not react with spores of non-anthrax Bacillus strains that gave cross reactions with mouse hyperimmune antiserum raised against Ames spores. The staining of individual spores in B. anthracis preparations was more heterogeneous with the monoclonal antibody than with the hyperimmune serum. Evidence is produced that the epitope for this monoclonal is not stable during long-term storage of inactivated spore preparations, and is not fully available for reaction with antibody until late in spore maturation. The monoclonal did not react by immunoblotting (Western blotting) of spore extracts. A monoclonal antibody produced against Ames spore extracts reacted with about 1% of Ames spores in IF tests, but not reproducible reactions with other anthrax strains were recorded. This monoclonal interacted with three bands in Western blots of anthrax spore extracts.

Animals↗

Heat sensitization of bacterial spores after exposure to ethidium bromide, acriflavine, or daunomycin.

A 20-min exposure of 10(7) unmodified spores of either Bacillus subtilis NCTC 3610 (harvested from potato-dextrose agar plus manganese) or Bacillus megaterium ATCC 19213 (harvested from nutrient agar plus manganese) per ml to 5 microgram of ethidium bromide per ml did not kill the spores (recovered on TAM [thermoacidurans agar modified]-plus thymidine medium). However, in both cases, the ability to survive various heat treatments was reduced after exposure of the spores to ethidium bromide. With B. subtilis, a 10-min heat treatment at 85 degrees C of unexposed spores resulted in an 85% survival rate, whereas only 50% of the ethidium bromide-exposed spores survived. With B. megaterium similar results were obtained at 75 degrees C; 77% of the unexposed spores survived, whereas only 31% of the ethidium bromide-exposed spores survived. Similarly, a 10-min exposure of B. subtilis spores to 0.005 microgram of acriflavine per ml did not kill unheated spores; however, the ability of the spores to survive exposure at 85 degrees C for 10 min was reduced to 40%. After exposure to 10 microgram of daunomycin per ml, the survival rate was 35%. Binding studies with ethidium bromide showed strong binding to spores, but as yet, the site of binding is unknown.

Acridines↗