Dielectric properties of component parts of bacterial spores in the dry state

Bacterial spores (Fig. 1) usually have a coat consisting of protein-aceous material, a cortex consisting of polysaccharides and a core of DNA, RNA and a large amount of calcium dipicolinate (CaDPA). The physical properties of the coat and cortex, particularly their mechanical strength, have become of importance since it has been postulated that the hydrostatic pressure inside spores in water is greater than 200 atmospheres (1).