
Cell surface appendages of lactobacilli
Author(s) -
McGroarty Jacqueline A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1994.tb07316.x
Subject(s) - appendage , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biology , anatomy , biochemistry
Seventeen vaginal isolates of lactobacillus were negatively stained using 1% phosphotungstic acid and examined by transmission electron microscopy. One or two flagella were observed in a polar or, less frequently, sub‐polar position on 14 of the 17 isolates. The structures, measuring 12 nm in diameter and up to 12 μm long, were seen on cells cultured in both solid and liquid MRS medium. Fimbriae, measuring 3.5 nm in diameter and 0.1 μm to 1.0 μm in length, extended from the cell surface of 15 of the 17 lactobacillus isolates. Production of fimbriae was maximal when the lactobacilli were cultured on solid medium in an anaerobic atmosphere. Fimbriation significantly increased adhesion of lactobacilli to vaginal epithelial cells in vitro.