Biomolecule Raman Spectral Temporal Flux From Resting Bacillus Spores In Deionized Water Matrix

Raman microspectroscopy and principal component analysis are used to decipher unique biomolecular information by monitoring the effect of residence time of Bacillus spores suspended in deionized water. Suspensions of viable spores of Bacillus anthracis Sterne (BA), Bacillus atrophaeus (BG), and Bacillus thuringiensis were prepared and spectrally monitored from initial deposition (time zero) and intermittently for seven days. Questions addressed include if spectral variations are significant with bacterial species and residence time under non-germination conditions, is the discrimination capability affected, and are there markers indicating pre-germination activity. Clear spectral distinction for the spore suspensions was observed with respect to residence time, however, when the residence time data were combined, discrimination analyses showed significant overlap between the BA and BG spores. Temporal spectral analyses at select wavenumbers suggest an increase in pre-germination activity from the freshly suspended to one day suspensions.