Bacterial spores

Term for the dormant form of spore-forming bacteria. The formation of bacterial spores is usually triggered by unfavourable growth conditions.

Depending on the type of bacteria, spores are divided into endospores, exospores, myxospores, and cysts. Especially endospores are characterised by a complex structure and resistance to high temperatures. That is why this dormant form is capable of surviving for periods longer than thousand years.