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Ultrastructural studies on the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena and its epiphytic bacteria of the genus Seliberia
Author(s) -
Gumpert J.,
Šmarda J.,
Hübel M.,
Hübel H.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of basic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.58
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1521-4028
pISSN - 0233-111X
DOI - 10.1002/jobm.3620271003
Subject(s) - ultrastructure , epiphyte , biology , cell wall , vesicle , trichome , cyanobacteria , botany , algae , cytoplasm , inclusion bodies , bacteria , biophysics , membrane , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , paleontology , escherichia coli , gene
A 400–900 nm thick slime sheath showing 2–3 layers of different thickness and fibril orientation as well as large amounts of densely packed gas vesicles are characteristic for vegetative cells of Nodularia spumigena , a cyanobacterium, forming extended water blooms in the Baltic Sea. Comparative SEM and TEM investigations revealed typical screw‐like shaped epiphytic bacterial cells anchored in the slime sheath of Nodularia trichomes. Their unique helically sculptured surface is characteristic for the genus Seliberia. Two types of Seliberia cells can be distinguished, regarding cell morphology, formation of apical spherical bodies and their occurrence on host organisms. The main ultrastructural peculiarities concern a helically sculptured membraneous cell wall, a 100–250 nm large, heavily stained inclusion granulum in the cytoplasm of the anchored polar region, and a pad‐structure with associated hold‐fast material surrounding the polar cap, which is attached to the slime sheath. A permanent subcultivation of pure cultures of Seliberia epiphytes could not be obtained. In samples from natural water blooms, Nodularia cells were found to contain single or numerous gram‐negative rod‐shaped bacteria, and to show a more or less advanced destructio of the intracellular organization.