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. 1977 Mar;15(3):890–896. doi: 10.1128/iai.15.3.890-896.1977

Ultrastructural investigations on surface structures involved in Coxiella burnetii phase variation.

H Krauss, H G Schiefer, H D Schmatz
PMCID: PMC421457  PMID: 404251

Abstract

By using the cytochemical staining procedure with concanavalin A, horseradish peroxidase, and diaminobenzidine, no surface carbohydrates with terminal alpha-glucosyl or sterically closely related residues could be detected on the cell walls of Coxiella burnetii phases I and II. Using a polycationized ferritin derivative as a cytochemical probe, anionic binding sites were visualized in the electron microscope on cell membranes of C. burnetii phase II, but not on phase I organisms. The sites appeared to be masked in phase I particles. Anionic sites could be demonstrated on phase I organisms after treatment with NaIO4 or dimethyl sulfoxide. A number of different biological properties of C. burnetii phases I and II may depend on the presence or absence of a net negative charge on the surface of the cell walls of these organisms.

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Selected References

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

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