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Zinc stimulates sporulation inClostridium botulinum 113B

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Abstract

The presence of 0.5–1.0 mM zinc (Zn) in a complex sporulation medium stimulated spore formation in certain strains ofClostridium botulinum. Zinc increased both the titer of free refractile spores (spores per liter) and the percentage conversion of vegetative cells to spores. Certain other transition metals including iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) also improved sporulation, but not so effectively as zinc. Sporulation was drastically decreased by the addition to the medium of 0.5–1.0 mM copper (Cu). Copper was shown to compete with the acquisition of zinc by the sporulating cells. Spores were separated from their progenitor vegetative cells to ≥98% homogeneity by incorporation of a density-separation step in the extensive washing procedure. Analysis of the metal contents of the purified spores showed that zinc levels in spores were reduced considerably in culture media containing excess copper. The results imply that either the availability of zinc or the limitation of copper stimulates sporulation inC. botulinum. In addition toC. botulinum 113B, zinc also increased sporulation in several type A, B, and E strains and one proteolytic type F strain ofC. botulinum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Microbiology and Toxicology, University of Wisconsin, 53706, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    David J. Kihm &  Eric A. Johnson

  2. Campbell Institute for Research and Technology, Campbell Place, Camden, New Jersey, USA

    Micki T. Hutton & John H. Hanlin

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  1. David J. Kihm
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  2. Micki T. Hutton
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  3. John H. Hanlin
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  4. Eric A. Johnson
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Kihm, D.J., Hutton, M.T., Hanlin, J.H. et al. Zinc stimulates sporulation inClostridium botulinum 113B. Current Microbiology 17, 193–198 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01589451

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