Therefore,spore suspensionsat anOD600w1 of thefive food poisoning isolates used in this study were heat activated (80 C, 10 min), cooled to room temperature in a water bath and then incubated with 100 mM L-asparagine and 100 mM KCl (AK) in 25 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) at 55, 60 and 65 C. Germination was monitored by measuring OD600 as previously described.