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THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF CULTIVABLE TREPONEMES.
Author(s) -
Hougen K. Hovind
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
acta pathologica microbiologica scandinavica section b microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0365-5563
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1974.tb02358.x
Subject(s) - flagellum , treponema , ultrastructure , biology , cytoplasm , microbiology and biotechnology , staining , cell wall , morphology (biology) , bacteria , zoology , anatomy , botany , genetics , virology , syphilis , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
Organisms of the species Treponema calligyrum, Treponema minutum and Treponema microdentium were studied in the electron microscope after negative staining. Statistical analysis demonstrated a difference in the distribution of cell lengths and in mean wave lengths between organisms of the three species. The cells of all species were covered by a regularly structured surface layer. The substructure of these layers showed variation from species to species but was identical for four strains of one species ( T. microdentium ). Generally, individual cells of the species possessed two‐three flagella inserted at each end. The flagella were entwined around the cytoplasmic body of the treponeme and individual flagella interdigitated in the mid‐region. Treatment of cells with sodium deoxycholate or Myxobacter AL‐1 protease 1 revealed bundles of cytoplasmic tubules in the cell interior. It is concluded that the four strains of T. microdentium examined all belong to one and the same species, and that the morphological differences observed between treponemes of the three different species justify the maintaining of these as separate species.