Physiological Studies on Spore Germination, with Special Reference to Clostridium botulinum

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Abstract
CO2 is essential for germination of C. botulinum spores in synthetic media or in media of low nutritional content. Oxalacetic acid replaces the CO2. Four other sp. of Clostridium failed to respond to CO2. Complex organic materials like yeast, liver or brain-heart infusions could bypass the CO2 effect and presumably contain substances in whose synthesis CO2 participates. Biotin, aspartic acid, C4 dicarboxylic acids and other known bypassing compounds were ineffective. Spore germination of aerobic bacteria was not influenced by CO2 but spore germination by Bacillus mesentericus was accelerated by C4 dicarboxylic acid.