Longevity of microorganisms in natural environments
Gest, H.; Mandelstam, J.
Microbiological Sciences 4(3): 69-71
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0265-1351 PMID: 3153174 Document Number: 298088
Bacterial endospores are exceptional among living systems in respect to their resistance to adverse environmental conditions, notably to heat and dessication, and consequently might be expected to show crytobiosis of very long duration. This report considers recent observations indicating that the maximal longevity of bacterial spores is probably much greater than previously believed.