Dipicolinic acid
Encyclopedia
Dipicolinic acid is a chemical compound which composes 5% to 15% of the dry weight of bacteria
l spores. It is implicated as responsible for the heat resistance of the endospore
.
However, mutants resistant to heat but lacking dipicolinic acid have been isolated, suggesting other mechanisms contributing to heat resistance are at work.
Two genera of bacteria are known to produce endospores: the aerobic Bacillus
and anaerobic Clostridium
.
A Jet Propulsion Laboratory chemist has developed technology to perform high speed, large area assessments of sterilization by searching for dipicolinic acid as an indicator of spores, being the hardiest of life forms. Spacecraft cleanliness
can more rapidly be ascertained, as well as the sterility of medical equipment and facilities.
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
l spores. It is implicated as responsible for the heat resistance of the endospore
Endospore
An endospore is a dormant, tough, and temporarily non-reproductive structure produced by certain bacteria from the Firmicute phylum. The name "endospore" is suggestive of a spore or seed-like form , but it is not a true spore . It is a stripped-down, dormant form to which the bacterium can reduce...
.
However, mutants resistant to heat but lacking dipicolinic acid have been isolated, suggesting other mechanisms contributing to heat resistance are at work.
Two genera of bacteria are known to produce endospores: the aerobic Bacillus
Bacillus
Bacillus is a genus of Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria and a member of the division Firmicutes. Bacillus species can be obligate aerobes or facultative anaerobes, and test positive for the enzyme catalase. Ubiquitous in nature, Bacillus includes both free-living and pathogenic species...
and anaerobic Clostridium
Clostridium
Clostridium is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria, belonging to the Firmicutes. They are obligate anaerobes capable of producing endospores. Individual cells are rod-shaped, which gives them their name, from the Greek kloster or spindle...
.
A Jet Propulsion Laboratory chemist has developed technology to perform high speed, large area assessments of sterilization by searching for dipicolinic acid as an indicator of spores, being the hardiest of life forms. Spacecraft cleanliness
Forward-contamination
Forward-contamination is the contamination of other worlds with Terrestrial microbes. The risk of forward-contamination is twofold: that human beings may accidentally seed a previously sterile world, thus creating "extraterrestrials" that are really of terrestrial origin ; or that an...
can more rapidly be ascertained, as well as the sterility of medical equipment and facilities.
External links
- JPL Develops High-Speed Test to Improve Pathogen Decontamination at JPL.
- Spotting Spores at Astrobiology Magazine.