Figure 3: Confocal microscopy image revealing the damage inferred to FITC-labeled spores of B. atrophaeus upon exposure to ultrasound for 2 × 15 s. The typical morphological pattern obtained under these conditions includes (1) half spore, (2) spore broken in halves, (3) spore fragment, and (4) spore with intact shape. To facilitate observation, the sample was immobilized in 0.5% agarose gel.