Killing of spores of Bacillus subtilis by tert-butyl hydroperoxide plus a TAML activator

AIMS: To determine the effectiveness of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) plus the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and a tetra-amido macrocyclic ligand (TAML) activator in killing spores of Bacillus subtilis and the mechanisms of spore resistance to and killing by this reagent. METHODS AND RESULTS: Killing of spores of B. subtilis by tBHP was greatly stimulated by the optimum ratio of concentrations of a TAML activator (1.7 micromol l(-1)) to tBHP (4.4%, vol/vol) plus a low level (270 mg l(-1)) of CTAB. Rates of killing of spores lacking most DNA protective alpha/beta-type small, acid-soluble spore proteins (alpha(-)beta(-) spores) or the major DNA repair protein, RecA, by tBHP plus CTAB and a TAML activator were essentially identical to that of wild-type spore killing. Survivors of wild-type and alpha(-)beta(-) spores treated with tBHP plus CTAB and a TAML activator also exhibited no increase in mutations. Spores lacking much coat protein either because of mutation or chemical decoating were much more sensitive to this reagent than were wild-type spores, but were more resistant than growing cells. Wild-type spores killed with this reagent retained their large pool of dipicolinic acid (DPA), and the survivors of spores treated with this reagent were sensitized to wet heat. The tBHP plus CTAB and TAML activator-killed spores germinated with nutrients, albeit more slowly than untreated spores, but germinated faster than untreated spores with dodecylamine. The killed spores were also germinated by application of 150 and 500 megaPascals of pressure for 15 min and by lysozyme treatment in hypertonic medium, but these spores lysed shortly after their germination. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of tBHP plus CTAB and a TAML activator is effective in killing B. subtilis spores. The spore coat is a major factor in spore resistance to this reagent system, which does not kill spores by DNA damage or by inactivating some component needed for spore germination. Rather, this reagent system appears to kill spores by damaging the spore's inner membrane in some fashion. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This work demonstrates that tBHP plus CTAB and a TAML activator is an effective and mild decontaminant for spores of Bacillus species. Evidence has also been obtained on the mechanisms of spore resistance to and killing by this reagent system.     

Observations on research with spores of Bacillales and Clostridiales species

The purpose of this article is to highlight some areas of research with spores of bacteria of Firmicute species in which the methodology too commonly used is not optimal and generates misleading results. As a consequence, conclusions drawn from data obtained are often flawed or not appropriate. Topics covered in the article include the following: (i) the importance of using well-purified bacterial spores in studies on spore resistance, composition, killing, disinfection and germination; (ii) methods for obtaining good purification of spores of various species; (iii) appropriate experimental approaches to determine mechanisms of spore resistance and spore killing by a variety of agents, as well as known mechanisms of spore resistance and killing; (iv) common errors made in drawing conclusions about spore killing by various agents, including failure to neutralize chemical agents before plating for viable spore enumeration, and equating correlations between changes in spore properties accompanying spore killing with causation. It is hoped that a consideration of these topics will improve the quality of spore research going forward.     

Mechanisms of killing of spores of Bacillus subtilis by dimethyldioxirane

AIMS: To determine the mechanisms of Bacillus subtilis spore resistance to and killing by a novel sporicide, dimethyldioxirane (DMDO) that was generated in situ from acetone and potassium peroxymonosulfate at neutral pH. METHODS AND RESULTS: Spores of B. subtilis were effectively killed by DMDO. Rates of killing by DMDO of spores lacking most DNA protective alpha/beta-type small, acid-soluble spore proteins (alpha- beta- spores) or the major DNA repair protein, RecA, were very similar to that of wild-type spore killing. Survivors of wild-type and alpha- beta- spores treated with DMDO also exhibited no increase in mutations. Spores lacking much coat protein due either to mutation or chemical decoating were much more sensitive to DMDO than were wild-type spores, but were more resistant than growing cells. Wild-type spores killed with this reagent retained their large pool of dipicolinic acid (DPA), and the survivors of spores treated with DMDO were sensitized to wet heat. The DMDO-killed spores germinated with nutrients, albeit more slowly than untreated spores, but germinated faster than untreated spores with dodecylamine. The killed spores were also germinated by very high pressures and by lysozyme treatment in hypertonic medium, but many of these spores lysed shortly after their germination, and none of these treatments were able to revive the DMDO-killed spores. CONCLUSIONS: DMDO is an effective reagent for killing B. subtilis spores. The spore coat is a major factor in spore resistance to DMDO, which does not kill spores by DNA damage or by inactivating some component needed for spore germination. Rather, this reagent appears to kill spores by damaging the spore's inner membrane in some fashion. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This work demonstrates that DMDO is an effective decontaminant for spores of Bacillus species that can work under mild conditions, and the killed spores cannot be revived. Evidence has also been obtained on the mechanisms of spore resistance to and killing by this reagent.     

DNA strand breaks and base modifications induced by cholesterol hydroperoxides

Abstract

Cholesterol (Ch) can be oxidized by reactive oxygen species, forming oxidized products such as Ch hydroperoxides (ChOOH). These hydroperoxides can disseminate the peroxidative stress to other cell compartments. In this work, the ability of ChOOH to induce strand breaks and/or base modifications in a plasmid DNA model was evaluated. In addition, HPLC/MS/MS analyses were performed to investigate the formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) after the incubation of 2′-deoxyguanosine (dGuo) with ChOOH and Cu²⁺. In the presence of copper ions, ChOOH induced DNA strand breaks in time and concentration-dependent manners. Purine and pyrimidine base modifications were also observed, as assessed respectively by the treatment with Fpg and Endo III repair enzymes. The detection of 8-oxodGuo by HPLC/MS/MS is in agreement with the dGuo oxidation in plasmid DNA. ChOOH-derived DNA damage adds further support to the role of lipid peroxidation in inducing DNA modifications and mutation.     

Mineralization and responses of bacterial spores to heat and oxidative agents

Abstract: Mineralization of bacterial spores with Ca²⁺ and a variety of other mineral cations enhances resistance to heat damage. Part of the enhancement is associated with increased dehydration of the mineralized protoplast or spore core, while part is independent of dehydration and effective for resistance even to dry heat. Spore mineralization was found also to enhance resistance to oxidative damage caused by agents such as tertiary butyl hydroperoxide or H₂0₂. In contrast, mineral cations in the environment increased oxidative damage, presumably by catalyzing radical formation. Metal ion chelators such as o-phenanthroline protected spores against such damage.     

Modelling the influence of the incubation temperature upon the estimated heat resistance of heated bacillus spores

AIMS: In this study, the influence of the incubation temperature on the D-values was described according to a simple Bigelow-like model. METHODS: Model parameters were estimated from different sets of data from the literature and from our own data. For different Bacillus species and heat-treatment conditions, the influence of the recovery temperature was quantified and the optimal recovery temperature was determined. RESULTS: The impacts of species, bacterial strains belonging to the same species, heat-treatment temperature and composition of recovery media on the model parameters were analysed. The optimum recovery temperatures differ greatly from one species to another; however, no difference appears clearly between strains belonging to the same species. D values were significantly affected by recovery temperature. This influence of recovery temperature was dependent on the species, and affected by the composition of recovery media but not by the heating temperature. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The developed model could be useful for determining the optimal incubation temperature and quantifying the weight of the recovery temperature influence for safe security control in the canning industry.     

Analysis of damage due to moist heat treatment of spores of Bacillus subtilis

Aims:  To determine conditions for generation and recovery of Bacillus subtilis spore populations heavily damaged by moist heat treatment.
Methods and Results:  Bacillus subtilis spores were treated with moist heat and spore viability was assessed on different media. A rich medium and several minimal media gave similar spore recoveries after moist heat treatment, but lack of glucose in minimal media greatly decreased spore recovery. High NaCl levels also greatly decreased the recovery of moist heat-treated spores on minimal media, and addition of good osmoprotectants reversed this effect. Moist heat treatment did not decrease spore recovery on minimal media with high salt through DNA damage or by eliminating spore germination, but by affecting spore outgrowth.
Conclusions:  Conditions for generating B. subtilis spore populations with high levels of conditional moist heat damage have been determined. The major conditional damage appears to be in spore outgrowth, perhaps because of damage to one or more important metabolic enzymes.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This work has provided new insight into the mechanism of B. subtilis spore killing by moist heat.     

Mechanism of killing of spores of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus megaterium by wet heat

Aims: To determine the mechanism of wet heat killing of spores of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus megaterium. Methods and Results: Bacillus cereus and B. megaterium spores wet heat‐killed 82–99% gave two bands on equilibrium density gradient centrifugation. The lighter band was absent from spores that were not heat‐treated and increased in intensity upon increased heating times. These spores lacked dipicolinic acid (DPA) were not viable, germinated minimally and had much denatured protein. The spores in the denser band had viabilities as low as 2% of starting spores but retained normal DPA levels and most germinated, albeit slowly. However, these largely dead spores outgrew poorly if at all and synthesized little or no ATP following germination. Conclusions: Wet heat treatment appears to kill spores of B. cereus and B. megaterium by denaturing one or more key proteins, as has been suggested for wet heat killing of Bacillus subtilis spores. Significance and Impact of the Study: This work provides further information on the mechanisms of killing of spores of Bacillus species by wet heat, the most common method for spore inactivation.     

High gas pressure: an innovative method for the inactivation of dried bacterial spores

In this article, an original non-thermal process to inactivate dehydrated bacterial spores is described. The use of gases such as nitrogen or argon as transmission media under high isostatic pressure led to an inactivation of over 2 logs CFU/g of Bacillus subtilis spores at 430 MPa, room temperature, for a 1 min treatment. A major requirement for the effectiveness of the process resided in the highly dehydrated state of the spores. Only a water activity below 0.3 led to substantial inactivation. The solubility of the gas in the lipid components of the spore and its diffusion properties was essential to inactivation. The main phenomenon involved seems to be the sorption of the gas under pressure by the spores' structures such as residual pores and plasma membranes, followed by a sudden drop in pressure. Observation by phase-contrast microscopy suggests that internal structures have been affected by the treatment. Some parallels with polymer permeability to gas and rigidity at various water activities offer a few clues about the behavior of the outer layers of spores in response to this parameter and provide a good explanation for the sensitivity of spores to high gas pressure discharge at low hydration levels. Specificity of microorganisms such as size, organization, and composition could help in understanding the differences between spores and yeast regarding the parameters required for inactivation, such as pressure or maintenance time.     

Effects of Mn levels on resistance of Bacillus megaterium spores to heat, radiation and hydrogen peroxide

Aims: To determine the effects of Mn levels in Bacillus megaterium sporulation and spores on spore resistance. Methods and Results: Bacillus megaterium was sporulated with no added MnCl₂ and up to 1 mmol l^?1 MnCl₂. The resultant spores were purified and loosely bound Mn removed, and spore Mn levels were found to vary c. 100‐fold. The Mn level had no effect on spore γ‐radiation resistance, but B. megaterium spores with elevated Mn levels had higher resistance to UVC radiation (as did Bacillus subtilis spores), wet and dry heat and H₂O₂. However, levels of dipicolinic acid and the DNA‐protective α/β‐type small, acid‐soluble spore proteins were the same in spores with high and low Mn levels. Conclusions: Mn levels either in sporulation or in spores are important factors in determining levels of B. megaterium spore resistance to many agents, with the exception of γ‐radiation. Significance and Impact of the Study: The Mn level in sporulation is an important factor to consider when resistance properties of B. megaterium spores are examined, and will influence the UV resistance of B. subtilis spores, some of which are used as biological dosimeters.     

Germination and inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores induced by moderate hydrostatic pressure

In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of spore inactivation by high pressure at moderate temperatures to optimize the sterilization efficiency of high‐pressure treatments. Bacillus subtilis spores were first subjected to different pressure treatments ranging from 90 to 550 MPa at 40°C, with holding times from 10 min to 4 h. These treatments alone caused slight inactivation, which was related to the pressure‐induced germination of the spores. After these pressures treatments, the sensitivity of these processed spores to heat (80°C/10 min) or to high pressure (350 MPa/40°C/10 min) was tested to determine the pressure‐induced germination rate and the advancement of the spores in the germination process. The subsequent heat or pressure treatments were applied immediately after decompression from the first pressure treatment or after a holding time at atmospheric pressure. As already known, the spore germination is more efficient at low pressure level than at high pressure level. Our results show that this low germination efficiency at high pressure seemed not to be related either to a lower induction or a difference in the induction mechanisms but rather to an inhibition of enzyme activities which are involved in germination process. In fact, high pressure was necessary and very efficient in inducing spore germination. However, it seemed to slow the enzymatic digestion of the cortex, which is required for germinated spores to be inactivated by pressure. Although these results indicate that high‐pressure treatments are more efficient when the two treatments are combined, a small spore population still remained dormant and was not inactivated with any holding time or pressure level. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107: 876–883. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mechanisms of killing of Bacillus subtilis spores by hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide

AIMS: To determine the mechanisms of Bacillus subtilis spore killing by hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide, and its resistance against them. METHODS AND RESULTS: Spores of B. subtilis treated with hypochlorite or chlorine dioxide did not accumulate damage to their DNA, as spores with or without the two major DNA protective alpha/beta-type small, acid soluble spore proteins exhibited similar sensitivity to these chemicals; these agents also did not cause spore mutagenesis and their efficacy in spore killing was not increased by the absence of a major DNA repair pathway. Spore killing by these two chemicals was greatly increased if spores were first chemically decoated or if spores carried a mutation in a gene encoding a protein essential for assembly of many spore coat proteins. Spores prepared at a higher temperature were also much more resistant to these agents. Neither hypochlorite nor chlorine dioxide treatment caused release of the spore core's large depot of dipicolinic acid (DPA), but hypochlorite- and chlorine dioxide-treated spores much more readily released DPA upon a subsequent normally sub-lethal heat treatment than did untreated spores. Hypochlorite-killed spores could not initiate the germination process with either nutrients or a 1 : 1 chelate of Ca2+-DPA, and these spores could not be recovered by lysozyme treatment. Chlorine dioxide-treated spores also did not germinate with Ca2+-DPA and could not be recovered by lysozyme treatment, but did germinate with nutrients. However, while germinated chlorine dioxide-killed spores released DPA and degraded their peptidoglycan cortex, they did not initiate metabolism and many of these germinated spores were dead as determined by a viability stain that discriminates live cells from dead ones on the basis of their permeability properties. CONCLUSIONS: Hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide do not kill B. subtilis spores by DNA damage, and a major factor in spore resistance to these agents appears to be the spore coat. Spore killing by hypochlorite appears to render spores defective in germination, possibly because of severe damage to the spore's inner membrane. While chlorine dioxide-killed spores can undergo the initial steps in spore germination, these germinated spores can go no further in this process probably because of some type of membrane damage. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results provide information on the mechanisms of the killing of bacterial spores by hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide.     

Analysis of dye binding by and membrane potential in spores of Bacillus species

Aims:  To determine roles of coats in staining Bacillus subtilis spores, and whether spores have membrane potential.
Methods and Results:  Staining by four dyes and autofluorescence of B. subtilis spores that lack some ( cotE , gerE ) or most ( cotE gerE) coat protein was measured. Wild-type, cotE and gerE spores autofluorescenced and bound dyes, but cotE gerE spores did not autofluorescence and were stained only by two dyes. A membrane potential-sensitive dye DiOC₆(3) bound to dormant Bacillus megaterium and B. subtilis spores. While this binding was abolished by the protonophore FCCP, DiOC₆(3) bound to heat-killed spores, but not to dormant B. subtilis cotE gerE spores. However, DiOC₆(3) bound well to all germinated spores.
Conclusions:  The autofluorescence of dormant B. subtilis spores and the binding of some dyes are due to the coat. There is no membrane potential in dormant Bacillus spores, although membrane potential is generated when spores germinate.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  The elimination of the autofluorescence of B. subtilis spores may allow assessment of the location of low abundance spore proteins using fluorescent reporter technology. The dormant spore's lack of membrane potential may allow tests of spore viability by assessing membrane potential in germinating spores.     

Treatment with oxidizing agents damages the inner membrane of spores of Bacillus subtilis and sensitizes spores to subsequent stress

AIMS: To determine if treatment of Bacillus subtilis spores with a variety of oxidizing agents causes damage to the spore's inner membrane. METHODS AND RESULTS: Spores of B. subtilis were killed 80-99% with wet heat or a variety of oxidizing agents, including betadine, chlorine dioxide, cumene hydroperoxide, hydrogen peroxide, Oxone, ozone, sodium hypochlorite and t-butylhydroperoxide, and the agents neutralized and/or removed. Survivors of spores pretreated with oxidizing agents exhibited increased sensitivity to killing by a normally minimal lethal heat treatment, while spores pretreated with wet heat did not. In addition, spores treated with wet heat or the oxidizing agents, except sodium hypochlorite, were more sensitive to high NaCl in plating media than were untreated spores. The core region of spores treated with at least two oxidizing agents was also penetrated much more readily by methylamine than was the core of untreated spores, and spores treated with oxidizing agents but not wet heat germinated faster with dodecylamine than did untreated spores. Spores of strains with very different levels of unsaturated fatty acids in their inner membrane exhibited essentially identical resistance to oxidizing agents. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of spores with oxidizing agents has been suggested to cause damage to the spore's inner membrane, a membrane whose integrity is essential for spore viability. The sensitization of spores to killing by heat and to high salt after pretreatment with oxidizing agents is consistent with and supports this suggestion. Presumably mild pretreatment with oxidizing agents causes some damage to the spore's inner membrane. While this damage may not be lethal under normal conditions, the damaged inner membrane may be less able to maintain its integrity, when dormant spores are exposed to high temperature or when germinated spores are faced with osmotic stress. Triggering of spore germination by dodecylamine likely involves action by this agent on the spore's inner membrane allowing release of the spore core's depot of dipicolinic acid. Presumably dodecylamine more readily alters the permeability of a damaged inner membrane and thus more readily triggers germination of spores pretreated with oxidizing agents. Damage to the inner spore membrane by oxidizing agents is also consistent with the more rapid penetration of methylamine into the core of treated spores, as the inner membrane is likely the crucial permeability barrier to methylamine entry into the spore core. As spores of strains with very different levels of unsaturated fatty acids in their inner membrane exhibited essentially identical resistance to oxidizing agents, it is not through oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids that oxidizing agents kill and/or damage spores. Perhaps these agents work by causing oxidative damage to key proteins in the spore's inner membrane. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The more rapid heat killing and germination with dodecylamine, the greater permeability of the spore core and the osmotic stress sensitivity in outgrowth of spores pretreated with oxidizing agents is consistent with such agents causing damage to the spore's inner membrane, even if this damage is not lethal under normal conditions. It may be possible to take advantage of this phenomenon to devise improved, less costly regimens for spore inactivation.     

Effect of the osmotic conditions during sporulation on the subsequent resistance of bacterial spores

The causes of Bacillus spore resistance remain unclear. Many structures including a highly compact envelope, low hydration of the protoplast, high concentrations of Ca-chelated dipicolinic acid, and the presence of small acid-soluble spore proteins seem to contribute to resistance. To evaluate the role of internal protoplast composition and hydration, spores of Bacillus subtilis were produced at different osmotic pressures corresponding to water activities of 0.993 (standard), 0.970, and 0.950, using the two depressors (glycerol or NaCl). Sporulation of Bacillus subtilis was slower and reduced in quantity when the water activity was low, taking 4, 10, and 17 days for 0.993, 0.970, and 0.950 water activity, respectively. The spores produced at lower water activity were smaller and could germinate on agar medium at lower water activity than on standard spores. They were also more sensitive to heat (97 degrees C for 5-60 min) than the standard spores but their resistance to high hydrostatic pressure (350 MPa at 40 degrees C for 20 min to 4 h) was not altered. Our results showed that the water activity of the sporulation medium significantly affects spore properties including size, germination capacity, and resistance to heat but has no role in bacterial spore resistance to high hydrostatic pressure.