Bacterial Spores in Today's Biotechnology

Sporulation is a bacterial process designed as a survival strategy to combat extreme environmental pressures—heat and chemical stress are examples in which bacteria are able to sporulate as a response. The scientific mechanisms behind sporulation are complex, and bacteria are able to utilize this complexity to survive unfavorable conditions. On a basic level, sporulation involves a highly regulated pathway that involves morphological changes into a state of dormancy. It is this ‘dormant’ state that allows bacteria, Bacillus subtilis for instance, to adapt and withstand extreme conditions. 

Researchers have been exploring the cellular mechanisms behind how bacteria are able to survive such intense environments, and applying it to fields such as biotechnology. Exploring the cellular processes behind sporulation permits the application of what is learned towards what it can be applied to. One of these applications include the way drugs are delivered into our bodies: “spores are considered as a potential biologically derived delivery system” (Farjadian et al.). In essence, spores are able to act as carriers for vaccine mediums that ultimately end up in our bodies. Researchers are still investigating the potential relationship between spores and vaccines, and this becomes even more relevant in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Another morphological feature of spores is its potential magnetic strength—this allows them to adsorb metals which can ultimately be applied to bioremediation or drug delivery (Paul et al.). Certain bacteria produce spores that induce lysis in tumor cells, acting as a treatment for cancer patients. In addition to this, researchers are able to engineer spores, such that they specifically germinate in hypoxic tumors by expressing certain enzymes (Heap et al.). Understanding the mechanisms behind bacterial sporulation allows us to see its potential in both the health and the public health field.

Biotechnology, however, is not limited to its application to humans. In the agricultural industry, there has been intention to replace chemical fertilizers with biofertilizers. Many species of Bacillus are able to promote plant growth due to the function of the spore, namely, its ability to withstand “osmotic stress caused by saline water or soil by limiting the uptake of sodium and chloride ions and by enhancing plant growth and seed germination” (Paul et al.). Investigating into sustainable solutions, such as the role of spores in biofertilizers, is extremely important in the face of climate change.

Although studying bacterial sporulation may seem trivial if looked from the surface, there are, in actuality, multiple layers towards its importance. Research has allowed for its application in biotechnology, medicine, public health, and sustainable solutions—this enumeration, however, will continue to grow as research does, paralleling the growth of knowledge and potential in many other areas of research.

References:

Farjadian, Fatemeh, et al. “Bacterial Components as Naturally Inspired Nano-Carriers for Drug/Gene Delivery and Immunization: Set the Bugs to Work?” Biotechnology Advances, Elsevier, 28 Feb. 2018, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0734975018300387?via%3Dihub. 

Heap, John T., et al. "Spores of Clostridium engineered for clinical efficacy and safety cause regression and cure of tumors in vivo." Oncotarget [Online], 5.7 (2014): 1761-1769. Web. 17 Feb. 2021

Paul, Christophe, et al. “Bacterial Spores, from Ecology to Biotechnology.” Advances in Applied Microbiology, Academic Press, 27 Nov. 2018, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0065216418300522?via=ihub#bb0180.