Simple and rapid method for detection of bacterial spores in powder useful for first responders.

* Bacillus anthracis is an aerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming, nonmotile Bacillus species.

* Its spores germinate when they are in an environment rich in amino acids, nucleosides, and glucose, such as the blood or tissues of an animal or human host.

* Vegetative Bacillus species turn into spores in harsh environmental conditions, such as boiling, freezing, desiccation, and nutrient exhaustion.

* The spores can survive for decades in adverse conditions.

* Current detection methods, such as colony counting or polymerase chain reaction (PCR), require more than a working day to provide results.

* The need for a rapid method by which first responders can screen for the presence of spores was highlighted by the anthrax attack of 2001.

* The majority of powders that were sampled in the context of that attack were hoaxes.

* Hoaxes place a heavy burden on public health laboratories.

* A simple and rapid screening procedure that could detect spores in an unidentified powder would reduce the workload of the laboratories.

* Appropriate actions could be taken immediately upon detection of the spores.

* An adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence assay allows estimation of viable bacterial cells within minutes.

* Bacterial spores are, however, deficient in ATP.

* So they are almost undetectable by a regular bioluminescence technique.

* Therefore, they need to be germinated to a vegetative state by addition of a nutrient.

* The purpose of this study was to find the best conditions for triggering the breakdown of endospore dormancy.

* The variables include germination time, temperature, nutrient type, and nutrient concentration.

* The optimum conditions for spore germination can be summarized as follows:

1. 37[degrees]C as a germination temperature,

2. 15 minutes as a germination time, and

3. single-strength solution of brain heart infusion as a nutrient.

* TSB can serve as a good alternative to brain heart infusion.

* Also, 5 minutes of germination time seems to be long enough to identify an increase in the biological activity of spores.

* The detection limit is less than 100 spores.

* All necessary equipment is portable.

* The germinants can easily be warmed with a small portable incubator or a hand warmer.

* Therefore, this method can be used to confirm the presence of viable spores in less time than traditional methods, at a higher level of sensitivity, and on site.