The Bacterial Spore Proteome; Identifying Targets for Spore Germination and Outgrowth Inhibition

Bacterial spores are ubiquitous in nature. They are stress resistant entities that can withstand high environmental temperatures, chemical insults and physical stress such as radiation or increased pressure. Spores are a concern to microbiological food stability due to these characteristics as upon survival of a preservation process they may start to germinate and grow out in food leading to vegetative cells that may cause food spoilage. In addition germinating and outgrowing spores at undesired times and places pose a significant health burden. The challenge is amplified due to the heterogeneous germination and outgrowth behaviour of an isogenic spore population. We discuss the role of different Omics techniques with the aid of state-of-the art technology to study spore biology in detail. With examples, the use of quantitative proteomics approaches in understanding the spore physiology is demonstrated. Also the need of single cell analyses and analyses of cellular physiology, in particular intracellular pH, is discussed briefly. Certainly the accurate data obtained from these Omics methods will lead to development of robust molecular models of bacterial spore germination and outgrowth and thus assist in the identification of novel systems biology based antimicrobial targets to inhibit spore germination and outgrowth.