Bacterial endospores are resistant to antibiotics, most disinfectants, and physical agents such as radiation, boiling, and drying. The impermeability of the spore coat is thought to be responsible for the endospore's resistance to chemicals. The heat resistance of endospores is due to a variety of factors: Calcium dipicolinate, abundant within the endospore, may stabilize and protect the endospore's DNA. Small acid-soluble proteins (SASPs) saturate the endospore's DNA and protect it from heat, drying, chemicals, and radiation. They also function as a carbon and energy source for the development of a vegetative bacterium during germination. The cortex may osmotically remove water from the interior of the endospore and the dehydration that results is thought to be very important in the endospore's resistance to heat and radiation. Finally, DNA repair enzymes contained within the endospore are able to repair damaged DNA during germination.
Bacterial endospores are resistant to antibiotics, most disinfectants, and physical agents such as radiation, boiling, and drying. The impermeability of the spore coat is thought to be responsible for the endospore's resistance to chemicals. The heat resistance of endospores is due to a variety of factors: Calcium dipicolinate, abundant within the endospore, may stabilize and protect the endospore's DNA. Small acid-soluble proteins (SASPs) saturate the endospore's DNA and protect it from heat, drying chemicals, and radiation. They also function as a carbon and energy source for the development of a vegetative bacterium during germination. The cortex may osmotically remove water from the interior of the endospore and the dehydration that results is thought to be very important in the endospore's resistance to heat and radiation. Finally, DNA repair enzymes contained within the endospore are able to repair damaged DNA during germination.