Exercise 10: Endospore Stain

Question 1

Sporulation

Answer 1

the process of making spores

• endospores are formed under nutrient limitation
• bacterial endospores are different from fungal spores

Question 2

Keratin

Answer 2

encases cytoplasm during sporulation, giving rise to endospore

Question 3

Endospore

Answer 3

• smaller than vegetative cell
• condensed cytoplasm within is dehydrated while still containing ribosomes and DNA
• highly resistant
• location can vary depending on bacterial species (terminal or central)

Question 4

Vegetative Cell

Answer 4

cell lacking an endospore

Question 5

Sporangium

Answer 5

surrounds the mature endospore

Question 6

Endospore Forming Genera (Gram (+) rod)

Answer 6

Bacillus, Clostridium, and Sporolactobacillus

Question 7

Clostridium

Answer 7

-known to cause food poisoning due to difficulty destroying all endospores during preparation
-C. botulinum –> botulism
-botulinum toxin is a potent neurotoxin
-C. tetani –> tetanus
C. perfringens –> gas gangrene and food infections

Question 8

Bacillus

Answer 8

• food poisoning

- B. cereus –> gastroenteritis