HEAT AND GAMMA-RADIATION RESISTANCE OF BACILLUS MEGATERIUM SPORES

Journal Article · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1963 · Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (England)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7158.1963.tb11203.x· OSTI ID:4083348

Tallentire, A; Chiori, C O

The correlation between heat resistance and resistance to ionizing radiation was studied in spores of Bacillus megaterium. Spores grown in a chemically defined medium and suspended in sterile water were heated in a 100 deg bath for different periods. Exponential time/survival curves (survivors estimated from colony counts) were constructed and the slopes of these used as a measure of heat resistance. Modification of the medium gave spores with different resistances to heat. Similarly, slopes of exponential dose/survival curves were used as a measure of spore resistance to cobalt-60 gamma rays. Results confirm earlier reports that high resistance of spores to heat is dependent on the divalent metallic ion content of the sporulation medium. However, radioresistance was unchanged by the variations in the divalent metallic ion content of the medium. Low heat resistant spores produced by the technique were far more heat resistant than corresponding vegetative cells. Therefore, it is suggested that possibly the same mechanism responsible for this disparity is a common regulatory mechanism for the usual high resistance of spores to hoth heat and radiation. (H.M.G.)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Manchester, Eng.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-18-013504
• OSTI ID: 4083348
• Journal Information: Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (England), Journal Name: Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (England) Vol. Vol: 15; ISSN JPPMA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BACILLUS MEGATERIUM
BACTERIA
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
COBALT 60
GAMMA RADIATION
GAMMA SOURCES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOSENSITIVITY
SPORES
SURVIVAL TIME
TEMPERATURE