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. 1983 Dec;156(3):1332–1337. doi: 10.1128/jb.156.3.1332-1337.1983

Ultrastructure and extreme heat resistance of spores from thermophilic Clostridium species.

H H Hyun, J G Zeikus, R Longin, J Millet, A Ryter
PMCID: PMC217984  PMID: 6643392

Abstract

The heat resistance and ultrastructural features of spore suspensions prepared from Clostridium thermocellum LQRI, Clostridium thermosulfurogenes 4B, and Clostridium thermohydrosulfuricum 39E were compared as a function of decimal reduction time. The decimal reduction times at 121 degrees C for strains LQRI, 4B, and 39E were 0.5, 2.5, and 11 min. The higher degree of spore heat resistance was associated with a spore architecture displaying a thicker cortex layer. Heat resistance of these spores was proportional to the ratio of spore cortex volume to cytoplasmic volume. These ratios for spores of strains LQRI, 4B, and 39E were 1.4, 1.6, and 6.6, respectively. The extreme heat resistance and autoclavable nature of C. thermohydrosulfuricum spores under routine sterilization procedures is suggested as a common cause of laboratory contamination with pure cultures of thermophilic, saccharide-fermenting anaerobes.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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