The release of dipicolinic acid during heating and its relation to the heat destruction ofBacillus stearothermophilusspores

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Abstract
The rates of dipicolinic acid (Dpa) release and the rates of death were studied for spores of five strains of Bacillus stearothermophilus. It was observed that a highly significant relationship exists between the rate of Dpa release and rate of spore death for the four out of five strains tested and for all test temperatures. At 115.degree. C the rate of Dpa release was found to be faster than the rate of death, equal at 120.degree. C and the slower at 125.degree. C. The role of Dpa in heat resistance was considered and a theory is proposed to explain the mechanism by which the heat resistance of bacterial spores is overcome.