Molecular Pathogens 2024, Vol.15, No.5, 255-262 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mp 260 low temperatures. This regulation ensures that B. subtilis can swiftly adapt to adverse conditions, enhancing its resilience and survival (Shi et al., 2020). The acetylation of the histone-like protein HBsu has been shown to influence sporulation and the resistance properties of spores, further underscoring the complex genetic regulation mechanisms that B. subtilis employs to manage stress (Pérez-Lorente et al., 2023). 7.2 Strategies for enhancing sporulation efficiency for industrial use Enhancing the efficiency of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis is of significant interest for industrial applications, particularly in the production of biofertilizers and biopesticides. One approach involves manipulating the acetylation state of HBsu, as specific acetylation patterns have been found to be crucial for proper chromosomal packaging and protection during sporulation. By optimizing these acetylation patterns, it may be possible to increase sporulation efficiency and improve the resistance properties of the spores. Another strategy focuses on the regulation of pro-σK activation, a key checkpoint in the sporulation process. Understanding the structural and mechanistic details of pro-σK activation can provide insights into how to control and enhance spore production, which is valuable for applications in the food industry and beyond (Sun et al., 2021). 7.3 Future applications in biotechnology and agriculture Bacillus subtilis holds great promise for future applications in biotechnology and agriculture due to its ability to promote plant growth and enhance stress tolerance. As a plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), B. subtilis can act as a biofertilizer and biopesticide, improving crop productivity and resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses. The bacterium achieves this through various mechanisms, including the production of secondary metabolites, hormones, and enzymes that support plant defense and growth (Hashem et al., 2019). The ability of B. subtilis to induce systemic resistance in plants and solubilize soil nutrients further enhances its potential as a sustainable agricultural tool. Future research and development efforts can focus on harnessing these capabilities to create more effective and environmentally friendly agricultural products. Acknowledgments We would like to express our gratitude to the reviewers for their valuable feedback, which helped improve the manuscript. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Al-Hinai M., Jones S., and Papoutsakis E., 2015, The Clostridiumsporulation programs: diversity and preservation of endospore differentiation, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 79(1): 19-37. https://doi.org/10.1128/MMBR.00025-14 Ayala F., Bartolini M., and Grau R., 2020, The stress-responsive alternative sigma factor SigB of Bacillus subtilis and its relatives: an old friend with new functions, Frontiers in Microbiology, 11: 1761. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01761 Bai N.L., He Y., Zhang H.L., Zheng X.Q., Zeng R., Li Y., Li S.X., and Lv W.G., 2022, γ-Polyglutamic acid production, biocontrol, and stress tolerance: multifunction of Bacillus subtilis A-5 and the complete genome analysis, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(13): 7630. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137630 Bucher T., Keren-Paz A., Hausser J., Olender T., Cytryn E., and Kolodkin-Gal I., 2019, An active β-lactamase is a part of an orchestrated cell wall stress resistance network of Bacillus subtilis and related rhizosphere species, Environmental Microbiology, 21(3): 1068-1085. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.14526 Dubnau E., Carabetta V., Tanner A., Miras M., Diethmaier C., and Dubnau D., 2016, A protein complex supports the production of Spo0A‐P and plays additional roles for biofilms and the K‐state in Bacillus subtilis. Molecular Microbiology, 101(4): 606-624. https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.13411 Fimlaid K., and Shen A., 2015, Diverse mechanisms regulate sporulation sigma factor activity in the Firmicutes, Current opinion in microbiology, 24: 88-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2015.01.006 Freire V., Río J., Gómara P., Salvador M., Condón S., and Gayán E., 2023, Comparative study on the impact of equally stressful environmental sporulation conditions on thermal inactivation kinetics of B. subtilis spores, International Journal of Food Microbiology, 405: 110349. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4399062
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