CALCIUM REVERSAL OF THE HEAT SUSCEPTIBILITY AND DIPICOLINATE DEFICIENCY OF SPORES FORMED "ENDOTROPHICALLY" IN WATER

Abstract

Spores of Bacillus cereus strain terminalis formed "endotrophically" by transferring granular vegetative cells to distilled water were found to be relatively susceptible to heat and deficient in dipicolinic acid. Calcium ions alone, added in low concentration shortly after the cells were placed in water, could completely relieve these abnormalities. Although the water-formed spores were sensitive to heat, they were as fully resistant as normal spores to gamma radiation or phenol.