To confirm the effect of sodium
hypochlorite on the surface topography and morphology of spores, groups
of spores treated with sodium hypochlorite for different times were
characterized separately using AFM. Most of the untreated spores had a
relatively rough outer surface (Figure 4 (a) ), with
some individuals showing shallow ridges on the surface. After sodium
hypochlorite treatment, the external surface of the spore was obviously
changed; the surface of the spore individual was uneven and had
protrusions consistent with shell protein retention after 5 min. The
surface of the spore individual treated for 10 min was extremely smooth,
with a few attachments. After treatment for 15 min, obvious ridges
appeared on the spore surface, holes of different sizes were detected,
and there were many crystal-like attachments around the spore. After 20
min, it became smoother, the individual spores became significantly
smaller, and some spores had gaps on the surface (Figure 4(b)–(e) ). Sodium hypochlorite treatment caused obvious damage
to the surface morphology and morphological
Figure 4 AFM images of individual spores treated with sodium
hypochlorite for different times. (a) 0 min; (b) 5 min; (c) 10 min; (d)
and (e) 15 min; (f) 20 min. (Picture size of individual spores: 2.5
μm, scale bar: 500 nm; picture
size of local details of spores: 500 nm, scale bar: 100 nm)