Skip to main content
PMC home page
Applied and Environmental Microbiology logoLink to Applied and Environmental Microbiology
. 1987 Jul;53(7):1560–1570. doi: 10.1128/aem.53.7.1560-1570.1987

Ultrastructure of Thiothrix spp. and “Type 021N” Bacteria

Terry M Williams 1, Richard F Unz 1,*, J Thomas Doman 1
PMCID: PMC203910  PMID: 16347385

Abstract

The ultrastructural features of two groups of filamentous sulfur bacteria, Thiothrix spp. and an unnamed organism designated “type 021N,” were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Negative staining of whole cells and filaments with uranyl acetate revealed the presence of tufts of fimbriae located at the ends of individual gonidia of Thiothrix sp. strain A1 and “type 021N” strain N7. Holdfast material present at the center of mature rosettes was observed in thin sections stained with ruthenium red. A clearly defined sheath enveloped the trichomes of two of three Thiothrix strains but was absent from “type 021N” filaments. The outer cell wall appeared more complex in “type 021N” strains than in Thiothrix isolates. Bulbs or clusters of irregularly shaped cells, often present in filaments of “type 021N” bacteria, appeared to result from crosswalls which formed at angles oblique to the filament axis. The multicellular nature of these sulfur bacteria was apparent in that only the cytoplasmic membrane and peptidoglycan layer of the cell wall were involved in the septation process. Sulfur inclusions which developed in the presence of sodium thiosulfate were enclosed by a single-layered envelope and located within invaginations of the cytoplasmic membrane.

Full text

PDF

Images in this article

1561Image
on p.1561
1562Image
on p.1562
1563Image
on p.1563
1565Image
on p.1565
1566Image
on p.1566
1567Image
on p.1567
1568Image
on p.1568
1569Image
on p.1569

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Burchard R. P. Gliding motility of prokaryotes: ultrastructure, physiology, and genetics. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1981;35:497–529. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.35.100181.002433. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. CONTI S. F., HIRSCH P. BIOLOGY OF BUDDING BACTERIA. 3. FINE STRUCTURE OF RHODOMICROBIUM AND HYPHOMICROBIUM SPP. J Bacteriol. 1965 Feb;89:503–512. doi: 10.1128/jb.89.2.503-512.1965. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Costerton J. W., Ingram J. M., Cheng K. J. Structure and function of the cell envelope of gram-negative bacteria. Bacteriol Rev. 1974 Mar;38(1):87–110. doi: 10.1128/br.38.1.87-110.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Dondero N. C. The Sphaerotilus-Leptothrix group. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1975;29:407–428. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.29.100175.002203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Farquhar G. J., Boyle W. C. Occurrence of filamentous microorganisms in activated sludge. J Water Pollut Control Fed. 1971 May;43(5):779–798. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hoeniger J. F., Tauschel H. D., Stokes J. L. The fine structure of Sphaerotilus natans. Can J Microbiol. 1973 Mar;19(3):309–313. doi: 10.1139/m73-051. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Larkin J. M., Strohl W. R. Beggiatoa, Thiothrix, and Thioploca. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1983;37:341–367. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.37.100183.002013. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. MORITA R. Y., STAVE P. W. ELECTRON MICROGRAPH OF AN ULTRATHIN SECTION OF BEGGIATOA. J Bacteriol. 1963 Apr;85:940–942. doi: 10.1128/jb.85.4.940-942.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Maier S., Murray R. G. The fine structure of Thioploca ingrica and a comparison with Beggiatoa. Can J Microbiol. 1965 Aug;11(4):645–655. doi: 10.1139/m65-087. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Nicolson G. L., Schmidt G. L. Structure of the Chromatium sulfur particle and its protein membrane. J Bacteriol. 1971 Mar;105(3):1142–1148. doi: 10.1128/jb.105.3.1142-1148.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Ottow J. C. Ecology, physiology, and genetics of fimbriae and pili. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1975;29:79–108. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.29.100175.000455. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Reichenbach H. Taxonomy of the gliding bacteria. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1981;35:339–364. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.35.100181.002011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Schmidt G. L., Nicolson G. L., Kamemd Composition of the sulfur particle of Chromatium vinosum strain D. J Bacteriol. 1971 Mar;105(3):1137–1141. doi: 10.1128/jb.105.3.1137-1141.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Shively J. M. Inclusion bodies of prokaryotes. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1974;28(0):167–187. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.28.100174.001123. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Snellen J. E., Raj H. D. Morphogenesis and fine structure of Leucothrix mucor and effects of calcium deficiency. J Bacteriol. 1970 Jan;101(1):240–249. doi: 10.1128/jb.101.1.240-249.1970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Tsien H. C., Schmidt E. L. Polarity in the exponential-phase Rhizobium japonicum cell. Can J Microbiol. 1977 Sep;23(9):1274–1284. doi: 10.1139/m77-191. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Williams T. M., Unz R. F. Filamentous sulfur bacteria of activated sludge: characterization of Thiothrix, Beggiatoa, and Eikelboom type 021N strains. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 Apr;49(4):887–898. doi: 10.1128/aem.49.4.887-898.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Wirsen C. O., Jannasch H. W. Physiological and morphological observations on Thiovulum sp. J Bacteriol. 1978 Nov;136(2):765–774. doi: 10.1128/jb.136.2.765-774.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied and Environmental Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES