With respect to coefficient of linear thermal expansion, bacterial vegetative cells and spores resemble plastics and metals, respectively

Table 1 The transition temperature and the coefficient of linear expansion of different bacteria, yeast, and plastic materials

Bacteria, yeast, and plastic materials	Transition temperatureTg(°C)	Coefficient of linear expansion (×10^-6/°C)
Vegetative cells
S. aureus	58 ± 0.7	190 ± 10.5
E. coli	48 ± 0.5	360 ± 13.5
B. subtilis	71 ± 1.8	105 ± 7.5
P. aeruginosa	56 ± 0.9	230 ± 16.5
Saccharomyces pastorianus	54 ± 1.2	280 ± 12.5
Spores
G. stearothermophillus	172 ± 1.2	8 ± 0.3
B. coagulans	131 ± 2.0	11 ± 0.2
B. subtilis	125 ± 2.5	14 ± 0.6
B. licheniformis	107 ± 1.1	19 ± 0.5
B. megaterium	113 ± 0.9	18 ± 0.5
T. mathranii	239 ± 6.1	5 ± 0.2
M. thermoacetica	289 ± 6.7	4 ± 0.3
Plastic materials
PCL	55	122 ± 3.5
PE	116	102 ± 7.5
PET	235	70 ± 5.5
Nylon	256	65 ± 4.5

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