Microbiology
Endospore Worksheet
Name:__________________________
___________________________ are hard dry structures which form inside certain cocci and rod
genera.
When the _____________________ (dividing) cell dies, the endospore remains and preserves
life.
Endospores contain may __________________________ (water fearing) amino acids.
Endospores exist in what is known as a _________________________ state, this is a state with
_______ _____________________ ________________________ activity.
These tiny ‘containers’ have large amounts of dipiolinic acid and calcium that are _______
_________________________
____________________ in vegetative cells.
Most endospores have an outer spore coast known as ______________________.
Possibly because of their status as a metabolically inert life-form, endospores are
___________________________ to drying, ultraviolet radiation, and can survive for a time in
strong bases, acids, and disinfectants.
They tend to ___________________ ________________ with the normal aniline dyes.
When unstained are highly __________________________ (shiny, light reflective).
Endospores can be located __________________, subterminally, or ______________.
The vegetative cell that holds the endospores is the __________________________.
Microbiology
Endospore Worksheet
Name:__________________________
There are four common rod genera that form endospores - ____________________,
Sporolactobacillus, _____________________________, and Desulfotomaculum.
Of these genera, many are harmless soil ____________________________ (decomposers), but
there are a few that are extremely pathogenic and are considered very important.
Clostridium botulinum is the producer of what is considered the most deadly biological nerve
toxin. ______________________________(Not in book, Make a guess)
Clostridium tetani produces a toxin that causes ___________________ (_______________)
that kills through paralysis.
Clostridium perfringens causes gas __________________ as can other clostridia.
Bacillus anthracis causes _________________________ which is deadly to livestock and
humans.
Normal cooking ___________________ _______________________ _________________
endospores and can leave them ready to germinate.
Refrigeration does slow germination, but does not fully _____________________ it.
Clostridium and Bacillus are also important to the pharmaceutical industry. These genera supply
many of the ___________________________ used to kill or inhibit other microbial growth.
The Schaeffer-Fulton Endospore Stain technique requires that ____________________ be
applied to drive the primary dye (__________________ _____________) into the endospore.
Microbiology
Endospore Worksheet
Name:__________________________
The counterstain of safranin then dyes all non-endospore-containing cells _______________..