Open AccessMorphology and ultrastructure of oral strains of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Haemophilus aphrophilus
Author(s) -
Stanley C. Holt,
A. C. R. Tanner,
S. S. Socransky
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
infection and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.508
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1070-6313
pISSN - 0019-9567
DOI - 10.1128/iai.30.2.588-600.1980
Subject(s) - actinobacillus , ultrastructure , biology , haemophilus , microbiology and biotechnology , bacterial outer membrane , staining , vesicle , morphology (biology) , transmission electron microscopy , ruthenium red , negative stain , electron microscope , bacteria , anatomy , membrane , chemistry , materials science , biochemistry , zoology , genetics , physics , organic chemistry , escherichia coli , gene , optics , calcium , nanotechnology
Selected human oral and nonoral strains of the genera Actinobacillus and Haemophilus were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The strains examined were morphologically identical to recognized Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Haemophilus aphrophilus, and Haemophilus paraphrophilus. By transmission electron microscopy, the cells were typically gram negative in morphology, with several strains possessing some extracellular ruthenium red-staining polymeric material. Numerous vesicular structures, morphologically identical to lipopolysaccharide vesicles, were seen to originate from and be continuous with the surface of the outer membrane. Large numbers of these vesicles were also found in the external environment. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed that both actinobacilli and haemophili possessed surface projections and an amorphous surface material which connected and covered adjacent cells.