The detection of viable vegetative cells of Bacillus sporothermodurans using propidium monoazide with semi-nested PCR

► A novel PCR-based assay was developed to specifically detect Bacillus sporothermodurans. ► Propidium monoazide-PCR was used to detect only viable B. sporothermodurans cells. ► This method has been applied successfully to detect B. sporothermodurans in milk.