Bacterial Spores

Bacterial Spores

Bacterial spores are survival form of certain bacterial genera that show extreme resistance to chemical and physical inactivation.

Spores is small round or oval body that forms in bacteria due to cytoplasmic dehydration under unfavorable condition.

Only gram +ve bacteria can form spores, including species;

For example; Clostridium tetani (endospore forming bacteria)

Maintain all essential activities for bacteria to remain alive.

Endospore; present within cell.

Exospore; present outside cell.

Examples of Spore Forming Bacteria

Spore forming Bacteria include;

1. Bacillus (aerobic) 

2. Clostridium (anaerobic)

The spores of these are dormant bodies (state of inactivity) that carry all genetic material as found in vegetative form, but donot have an active metabolism.