Spores are robust, dormant, and non-reproducing forms of Bacteria that allow them to survive adverse environmental conditions.
The process of endospore formation, known as sporulation, begins when the bacterial cell detects unfavorable conditions, that trigger a series of morphological and physiological changes.
Bacillus endospores are resistant to a wide range of stress factors, compared to growing vegetative cells.
Cryo-electron microscopy analyses of Bacillus endospores contribute to a better understanding of the structural basis underlying their remarkable resilience to environmental conditions.
The unique resistance properties of endospores are associated with:
-> maintenance of low water content,
-> protective layer of peptidoglican cortex,
-> presence of DPA- dipicolinic acid,
-> crystalline nucleotide (increased stability of circular DNA structure).
The endospore formation process consists of the following stages:
1) Initiation by detecting unfavorable environmental conditions.
2) Asymmetric division into a smaller forespore and a larger mother cell.
3) Forming of a double membrane-bound structure.
4) Spore coat synthesis around the forespore by the mother cell.
5) DNA condensation and packaging within the forespore.
6) The mother cell lyses and releases the mature endospore into the environment.
Bacterial endospores have several industrial uses, including:
biofertilizers with extended shelf life,
microbial-based biostimulant formulas and plant growth enhancers,
composting and manure enrichment,
land and water bioremediation,
soil health improvement.
The properties resulting from the structure of Bacillus endospores make them possible to use them for a variety of purposes, from improving animal and human health to providing benefits for plants and soil.
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