Germination of Bacillus cereus T and Clostridium botulinum 62A spores in l-alanine solutions was totally inhibited by monolaurin (0.182 mM), monomyristin (0.331 mM), monolinolein (0.564 mM), and monolinolenin (0.142 mM). These monoglycerides inhibited the commitment to germinate, possibly by interfering with germinant diffusion to the binding site(s). They also blocked postcommitment to germinate reactions including loss of heat resistance. Outgrowth of fully germinated B. cereus T spores in the presence of l-alanine was inhibited by these monoglycerides.
