ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF SOME STRAINS OF BACTEROIDES

Abstract

Bladen, Howard A. (National Institute of Dental Research, Bethesda, Md.), and Judith F. Waters. Electron microscopic study of some strains of Bacteroides. J. Bacteriol. 86:1339-1344. 1963.-Cultures of some unidentified strains of Bacteroides were fixed, and embedded in Vestopal W. Thin sections were cut with a microtome and examined in an electron microscope. A triple-layered cell wall completely encircled the organisms and was separated from the cytoplasmic membrane by a space of 150 to 250 A. This space was crossed by frequent bridges connecting the cell wall to the cytoplasmic membrane. A five-layered cytoplasmic membrane was occasionally observed. However, the outer two dense layers were often difficult to resolve as separate structures and usually appeared as a single thick dense line. Cytokinesis of Bacteroides involved the inward annular growth of the cell wall-cytoplasmic membrane. No cell-plate formation was observed. Intracellular membranous elements occurred in Bacteroides and are reported.