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Electron microscopy of the surfaces of bacillus spores

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Abstract

The surface structures of the spores of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Brevibacillus laterosporus were studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Platinum deposition and negative staining with uranyl acetate revealed appendages and exosporium in B. thuringiensis and B. cereus. The exosporium structure was visualized by negative staining and ultrathin sectioning. For staining the exosporium polysaccharide, Alcian blue was used during fixation. The results obtained show the differences in structural organization of appendages and exosporium in different strains. Canoe-shaped inclusions were revealed in all Br. laterosporus strains, while strain IGM16-92 had a fibrillar capsule as well. Electron microscopy using a dual beam scanning electron microscope Quanta 200 3D provided the information of the spore surface relief without sample treatment (fixation and dehydration). The spores of Br. laterosporus strains had folded surface, unlike the smooth surface of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis spores. The diversity of external spore structures was shown within a species, which may be used for detection of bacteria at the strain level. Optimized procedures for visualization of spore surface by different electron microscopic techniques were discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, ul. Gamaleya 18, Moscow, 123098, Russia

    T. A. Smirnova, M. V. Zubasheva & N. V. Shevlyagina

  2. State Research Institute of Genetics and Selection of Industrial Microorganisms, Pervyi Dorozhny proezd 1, Moscow, 117545, Russia

    M. A. Nikolaenko & R. R. Azizbekyan

Authors
  1. T. A. Smirnova
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  2. M. V. Zubasheva
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  3. N. V. Shevlyagina
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  4. M. A. Nikolaenko
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  5. R. R. Azizbekyan
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Correspondence to T. A. Smirnova.

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Original Russian Text © T.A. Smirnova, M.V. Zubasheva, N.V. Shevlyagina, M.A. Nikolaenko, R.R. Azizbekyan, 2013, published in Mikrobiologiya, 2013, Vol. 82, No. 6, pp. 698–706.

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Smirnova, T.A., Zubasheva, M.V., Shevlyagina, N.V. et al. Electron microscopy of the surfaces of bacillus spores. Microbiology 82, 713–720 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1134/S002626171306009X

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S002626171306009X

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