Table 2. Effect of pasteurisation and/or repeated autoclaving on survival of Desulfotomaculum sp. CIA60 and related Desulfotomaculum species (++=positive growth,+=limited growth, −−=no growth).

Test strain	Autoclave conditions	Subculture	Pasteurisation	Times autoclaved
				1	2	3
Desulfotomaculum sp. C1A60 (spores and vegetative cells—grown on 2 mM fatty acid mix)	Falcon	++		++	++	++
Desulfotomaculum sp. C1A60 (microscopically vegetative cells only—grown on 20 mM sodium lactate)	Falcon	++		++	+	−−
D. kuznetsovii	Falcon	++		++	++	++
D. geothermicum B2T	Falcon	++	++	++	++	++
D. thermosapovorans	Falcon	++	++	−−	−−	−−
D. thermosapovorans	Bellco	++	++	−−	−−	−−
Desulfotomaculum sp. NC402	Falcon	++	++	−−	−−	−−
Desulfotomaculum sp. NC402	Bellco	+	++	−−	−−	−−
D. acetoxidans	Falcon	++	++	−−	−−	−−
D. acetoxidans	Bellco	++	++	−−	−−	−−

Falcon tubes are made from autoclavable polypropylene (not gas tight) and Bellco are glass tubes sealed with a septa (anaerobic).