Li Yangfu, Wang Juan, Zhou Guicheng, Yuan Xiaoming, Chen Ling, Gu Qihui, Zhang Youxiong, Wei Xianhu, Ding Yu, Wu Qingping
State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China; National Health Commission Science and Technology Innovation Platform for Nutrition and Safety of Microbial Food; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health; Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Biotechnol Adv. 2025 Nov;84:108683. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108683. Epub 2025 Aug 6.
Bacillus is a ubiquitous genus renowned for its ability to form highly resilient spores, posing significant challenges to the food industry. As society progresses, the demand for high-quality food continues to rise. While reducing excessive processing helps maintain nutritional value and quality which fits the demands from consumers, it increases the risk of spore contamination. Germination-inactivation strategies offer a promising solution by converting spores into vegetative cells, which can be eliminated through milder treatments, thus preserving food quality while ensuring food safety. However, the limited efficiency of current methods to induce germination, particularly due to the emergence of super-dormant spores, hinders their widespread application. Optimizing spore germination is critical for the successful implementation of the germination-inactivation strategies. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms underlying Bacillus spore germination, focusing on the latest advances in signal transduction and macromolecular biosynthesis. Additionally, we systematically summarize the characteristics of super-dormant spores and their potential causes. Current methods for enhancing spore germination efficiency are thoroughly reviewed, and their limitations are discussed in detail. Based on these insights, innovative solutions are proposed to address the existing challenges. Recent research has unveiled the signal transduction mechanisms involved in spore germination, emphasizing the critical role of ion release. Moreover, transcription and translation likely govern dipicolinic acid release and cortex hydrolysis, respectively, with spores being able to rapidly initiate transcription through pre-located RNA polymerase. Interestingly, the emergence of super-dormant spores is influenced by both permanent and transient factors. To improve spore germination efficiency, promising solutions include innovative screening of germinants, optimization of the key factors of thermal activation and pressure-induced germination, and utilization of key substances during germination process.
芽孢杆菌是一个普遍存在的属，以其形成高度抗性孢子的能力而闻名，这给食品工业带来了重大挑战。随着社会的进步，对高质量食品的需求持续上升。在减少过度加工有助于保持符合消费者需求的营养价值和质量的同时，这也增加了孢子污染的风险。发芽 - 灭活策略提供了一种有前景的解决方案，即将孢子转化为营养细胞，通过更温和的处理可以将其消除，从而在确保食品安全的同时保持食品质量。然而，目前诱导发芽的方法效率有限，特别是由于超级休眠孢子的出现，阻碍了它们的广泛应用。优化孢子发芽对于发芽 - 灭活策略的成功实施至关重要。本研究旨在全面概述芽孢杆菌孢子发芽的潜在机制，重点关注信号转导和大分子生物合成的最新进展。此外，我们系统地总结了超级休眠孢子的特征及其潜在原因。对目前提高孢子发芽效率的方法进行了全面综述，并详细讨论了它们的局限性。基于这些见解，提出了创新的解决方案来应对现有挑战。最近的研究揭示了孢子发芽中涉及的信号转导机制，强调了离子释放的关键作用。此外，转录和翻译可能分别控制吡啶二羧酸的释放和皮层水解，孢子能够通过预先定位的RNA聚合酶快速启动转录。有趣的是，超级休眠孢子的出现受到永久性和短暂性因素的影响。为了提高孢子发芽效率，有前景的解决方案包括创新筛选发芽剂、优化热激活和压力诱导发芽的关键因素，以及在发芽过程中利用关键物质。
