了解细胞生命活动途径并阐释其功能和分子机制是当前生命科学与物理科学交叉领域面临的重要科学挑战之一，而光学技术的创新与应用，能够通过监测单个细胞生理变化的细节来实现上述目标。细菌芽孢是一种特殊的休眠体，从休眠态转向营养生长的萌发过程是一种特别的细胞生理过程。光学技术和单细胞分析在芽孢萌发研究中的应用与发展，对认识芽孢萌发机理及其异质性发挥了极其重要的作用。就拉曼光谱、微分干涉差显微术、荧光成像和拉曼成像等技术的基本原理及其在细菌芽孢萌发中的应用与进展，前景与存在问题进行了简要述评。

To define the biophysical pathways of cellular life and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that carry out cellular and biological functions is one of the current significant scientific challenges in the intersection field of life and physical sciences. The novel application of optical techniques, sensing physiological changes in the details of individual cells, can help to meet these requirements. Bacterial spores belong to a cell type responding to adverse growing conditions, and the germination of spores from dormant to vegetative state is a special process of physiology. The application and development of optical techniques and single-cell analysis has played an extremely important role in understanding the mechanism of spore germination and heterogeneity. Raman spectroscopy, differential interference contrast microscopy, fluorescence imaging and Raman imaging are reviewed, and major unanswered questions are also discussed.