Premium
Cell surface structures of Actinomyces israelii
Author(s) -
Figdor David,
Davies John
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
australian dental journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1834-7819
pISSN - 0045-0421
DOI - 10.1111/j.1834-7819.1997.tb00109.x
Subject(s) - actinomyces israelii , actinomycosis , actinomyces , ultrastructure , microbiology and biotechnology , cell wall , pathogenicity , biology , pathology , chemistry , bacteria , anatomy , medicine , biochemistry , genetics
Actinomyces israelii is the most common cause of human actinomycosis, a chronic granulomatous infection. Periapical actinomycosis involving A. israelii has been identified as an important cause of failure of conventional endodontic treatment. Structures on the bacterial cell surface have been implicated in the pathogenicity of Actinomyces. In this study the ultrastructure of A. israelii was investigated by electron microscopy. Negatively stained preparations revealed the presence of hairlike fimbriae protruding through a thick surface coat on some species, whilst thin sectioning disclosed a Gram‐positive cell wall surrounded by a fuzzy outer coat. These structures may be important for the pathogenicity of A. israelii.