Chapter 2.16, Problem 3MQ

Summary Introduction

During unfavorable environmental conditions, a vegetative cell is transformed into an endospore, a light-refractive, heat-resistant, and non-growing structure. The process involved in the formation of endospores is referred to as endosporulation. Bacterial species belonging to the genus Clostridium and Bacillus are regarded as endospore-forming bacteria. In a favorable condition, an endospore is rapidly transformed back into a vegetative cell. This process is carried out in three steps, namely activation, germination, and outgrowth.