Resistance ofBacillusEndospores to Extreme Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Environments

2000/09/01 by Wayne L. Nicholson, Nobuo Munakata, G. Horneck +2 · 2,019 citations
Physics and Astronomy · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Planetary Science and Exploration #Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research #Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life #Endospore #Biology #Bacillus subtilis #Spore #Resistance (ecology) #Bacterial spore #Extraterrestrial life #Bacillus (shape) #Astrobiology #Interplanetary spaceflight #Microbiology #Ecology #Bacteria #Genetics

paper · open access · doi:10.1128/mmbr.64.3.548-572.2000

published in Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews 64(3), 548-572 (American Society for Microbiology)

openalex publication_date 2000/09/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

Endospores of Bacillus spp., especially Bacillus subtilis, have served as experimental models for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying the incredible longevity of spores and their resistance to environmental insults. In this review we summarize the molecular laboratory model of spore resistance mechanisms and attempt to use the model as a basis for exploration of the resistance of spores to environmental extremes both on Earth and during postulated interplanetary transfer through space as a result of natural impact processes.

Citations

• Natural Transfer of Viable Microbes in Space 1. From Mars to Earth and Earth to Mars
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Cited by

• Bacterial endospores and their significance in stress resistance
• Space Microbiology
• Long-term persistence of bacterial DNA
• Bacteria [wikipedia]