Monitoring DPA Release from a Single Germinating<i>Bacillus s</i><i>ubtilis</i>Endospore via Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Microscopy

Abstract

A method for monitoring DPA release from a single germinating Bacillus subtilis endospore is reported. High S/N ratio SERS spectra were obtained with excitation power 3 mW at 647.1 nm and 1 min spectral collection times. The method is proof-of-principle for the SERS detection limit at the single spore level. This represents a 100- to 1000-fold improvement over previously reported detection limits for SERS-based measurements of DPA in endospores.