Question

6. Endospores and persister cells are both used by bacteria to survive harsh conditions. However, these two structures are not similar, and they do not protect against the same harsh conditions.

A. Both endospores and persister cells are in a state of dormancy, but not for the same reasons. Explain the difference between persister dormancy and endospore dormancy. What is involved in each, and how does the level of inactivity compare?

B. Endospores are resistant to heat damage. Explain why. Would you predict that persisters are also resistant to heat damage?

Answer 1

These persister cells arise due to a state of dormancy, defined here as a state in which cells are metabolically inactive. Metabolic inactivity is mainly due to antibiotics.Persister are highly tolerant to antibiotics.  

Endospores however are due to unfavorable environment , i.e lack of nutritional supply and change in environment.

Duration of persister cell is short as compared to endospores. Level of activity is very much less in endospores.

B. Cortex of the endosperm is dehydrated coat along with the protein covering.making it hard and resistant to heat.

Persister are not heat resistant.