THE NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GERMINATION AND OUT-GROWTH OF SPORES AND VEGETATIVE CELL GROWTH OF SOME AEROBIC SPORE FORMING BACTERIA

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Abstract
Nutri-tional requirements for spore germination and vegetative cell growth of Bacillus stearothermophilus, B. coagulans, and B. cereus var. terminalis are described. The minimal requirements for germination and outgrowth of spores of B. stearothermophilus at 55[degree]C were isoleucine, leucine, valine, methionine, histidine, arginine, thiamin, nicotinic acid, and biotin. The vegetative cell requirements were identical, except that leucine and nicotinic acid were not required. In B. coagulans methionine, thiamin, biotin, and folic acid were essential for vegetative cell growth at 35 and 55[degree]C, while spores at 55[degree] C also required glutamic acid, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, and valine. Leucine was not essential for spores at 35[degree]C. Spores of B. cereus var. terminalis required isoleucine, leucine, valine, and methionine at 35[degree] C but the vegetative cells did not require leucine. The nutritional requirements for spore germination and outgrowth are more complex than those for vegetative cell growth. Germination experiments revealed that the requirements for spores were for outgrowth of the germinated form rather than for germination.