Role of the coat in resistance of bacterial spores to inactivation by ethylene oxide

摘要

A study of spore morphology revealed an association between resistance to ethylene oxide and abnormal spore coat development and both characteristics were enhanced by selection and propagation of resistant survivors. After rupture of the coat, spores were sensitized to lysozyme but not to ethylene oxide. Resistance to ethylene oxide was increased following treatment of spores with ureamercaptoethanol‐alkali and decreased after treatment with urea. Germinated spores retained resistance to the sterilant and loss of resistance coincided with emergence of the vegetative cell