The impact of inducing germination of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus thuringiensis spores on potential secondary decontamination strategies

摘要: Aims Decontamination and remediation of a site contaminated by the accidental or intentional release fully virulent Bacillus anthracis spores are difficult, costly potentially damaging to environment. Development novel decontamination strategies that have minimal environmental impacts remains high priority. Although ungerminated amongst most resilient organisms known, once exposed germinants, germinating spores, in some cases, become susceptible antimicrobial environments. We evaluated concept germinated, B. anthracis would be less hazardous significantly easier remediate than dormant spores. Methods Results Through vitro germination sensitivity assays, we demonstrated upon germination, Ames thuringiensis Al Hakam (serving as surrogate for B. anthracis) stressors. The majority these germinated B. thuringiensis were nonviable after exposure defined germination-inducing solution prolonged periods time. Additionally, examined impact potential secondary disinfectant including bleach, hydrogen peroxide, formaldehyde artificial UV-A, UV-B UV-C radiation, employed 60-min germination-induction step. Each employs unique mechanism killing; result, better suited disinfectants others. Conclusions These results provide evidence deployment an optimal combination strategy germination-induction/secondary disinfection may promising aspect wide-area following contamination event. Significance Impact Study By inducing germinate, our data confirm resulting cells exhibit sensitivities can leveraged when paired with certain measures. This increased susceptibility could exploited devise more efficient safe measures obviate need stringent methods currently place.