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. 1965 Jan;89(1):223–233. doi: 10.1128/jb.89.1.223-233.1965

Electron Microscopy of Leptospires I. Anatomical Features of Leptospira pomona

A E Ritchie 1, Herman C Ellinghausen 1
PMCID: PMC315573  PMID: 14255668

Abstract

Ritchie, A. E. (National Animal Disease Laboratory, Ames, Iowa), and Herman C. Ellinghausen. Electron microscopy of leptospires. I. Anatomical features of Leptospira pomona. J. Bacteriol. 89:223–233. 1965.—Anatomical features of Leptospira pomona are described. Most cells in the logarithmic phase of growth, when examined in whole cell “negative-stained” preparations, display a homogeneous finely granular protoplasmic cylinder. Some cells contain discrete or complex lamellar structures. The cell termini are attached to the protoplasmic cylinder by a membrane system. Each organism appears to have two independent axial filaments originating from opposite ends of the cell. The axial filaments are composed of a closely knit bundle of some 12 to 15 individual strands. A simple model suggesting a locomotory function for the axial filaments is presented. A superficial callouslike mass is occasionally observed in the cell's terminal region. The enveloping sheath is similar to the cytoplasmic membrane; both are triple-layered and ca. 50 A thick. The sheath preferentially forms blebs at the cell termini and midway along the protoplasmic cylinder. Septal-wall formation occurs at the mid region of the cell, and it is concluded that simple transverse binary fission is the predominant mode of reproduction.

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Selected References

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