Table 7.
Mechanisms of spore killing by and resistance to various agents∗.
| Type of agent | Mechanisms of killing | Mechanisms of resistance |
|---|---|---|
| HPP | Probably protein damage | Low core water content |
| UV, γ-radiation, nitrite, formaldehyde | DNA damage | α/β-type SASP, DNA repair, and perhaps IM impermeability |
| Oxidizing agents (OCl-, ClO2, O3) | IM damage | Spore coat/outer membrane |
| H2O2 | Probably core protein damage | α/β-type SASP, low core water |
| OH-, wet heat, some oxidizing agents | Inability to germinate | Spore coat/outer membrane |
| Strong mineral acid | Explosive rupture of IM | Not studied |
| Plasma | Protein or DNA damage1 | α/β-type SASP, spore coat, DNA repair |
| Wet heat | Protein damage | α/β-type SASP, low core water content |
| Dry heat | DNA damage | α/β-type SASP, DPA, DNA repair |
∗Data for these conclusions are from Gerhardt and Marquis (1989), Setlow (1994, 2001,2006; 2007a), Coleman et al. (2007, 2010), Leggett et al. (2012), Setlow and Johnson (2012), Reineke et al. (2013a,b), Moeller et al. (2014), Setlow et al. (2014).
1Plasma with UV-C kills spores by DNA damage, while UV-C free plasma likely kills by protein damage.