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PMID: 4110924 Published · ppublish English Journal Article

Ultrastructure of the exosporium and underlying inclusions in spores of Bacillus megaterium strains.

Journal of bacteriology ·Vol. 109 ·No. 3 ·1972-03-00 ·Pages 1198-209

Beaman TC, Pankratz HS, Gerhardt P

Abstract

Spores of selected strains of Bacillus megaterium were prepared by various methods and examined with the electron microscope. An exosporium like that of B. cereus, with a nap and basal layer, was found in spores of a B. megaterium strain that reportedly contains a capsule-like exosporium. The exosporium occasionally appeared to be doubled or have an apical opening. Pili-like filaments were discerned on the surface. Beneath the exosporium were found large deposits of planar inclusions, which in cross section appeared laminated and in surface views consisted of a patchwork of striated packets with a periodicity of approximately 5 nm. The inclusions were usually attached to the exosporium, but in ultrastructure they differed from both the exosporium and coat. In two other strains of B. megaterium, one or two coats occurred but a typical exosporium was not present.

MeSH Terms
Bacillus megaterium/cytology Cell Wall Freeze Etching Inclusion Bodies Microscopy, Electron Species Specificity Spores/cytology Spores, Bacterial/cytology Staining and Labeling
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Beaman T C
Pankratz H S
Gerhardt P
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Article Info
Journal
Journal of bacteriology
Abbr.
J Bacteriol
ISSN
0021-9193
DOI
10.1128/jb.109.3.1198-1209.1972
Published
1972-03-00
Pages
1198-209
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
2985120R
PMCID
PMC247344
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1128/jb.109.3.1198-1209.1972 PMC Full Text View journal details
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