Efficient Inhibition of Germination of Coat-Deficient Bacterial Spores by Multivalent Metal Cations, Including Terbium (Tb3+)

Release of dipicolinic acid (DPA) and its fluorescence with terbium (Tb3+) allow rapid measurement of the germination and viability of spores of Bacillus and Clostridium species. However, germination of coat-deficient Bacillus spores was strongly inhibited by Tb3+ and some other multivalent cations. Tb3+ also inhibited germination of coat-deficient Clostridium perfringens spores.