The Brownian diffusion of dormant and germinating spores of Bacillus megaterium

Light scattering techniques provide a non-destructive probe into structural aspects concerning the dormancy, heat resistance and germination of bacterial spores. Quasi-elastic light scattering techniques are applied to a study of the diffusion and scaling properties of dormant and germinating Bacillus megaterium spores (strain KM). A translational coefficient of (5.01 ± 0.10) × 10^-9 cm²/s is obtained for the dormant spore, with little apparent change during the early stages of germination. Dormant and germinated spores, however, give different scaling characteristics. The significance of these observations in terms of theories concerning the dormancy and heat resistance of spores is discussed.