Role of small, acid-soluble spore proteins in the resistance of Clostridium perfringens spores to chemicals

Previous work showed that C. perfringens spores lacking the majority of α/β-type small, acid-soluble spore proteins (SASPs) (termed α− β− spores) exhibit greatly decreased resistance to moist heat and UV radiation. The current study demonstrated that these α− β− spores had reduced resistance to hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, nitrous acid and formaldehyde. These results clearly demonstrate the important role of α/β-type SASPs in the resistance of C. perfringens spores to chemicals.