Further Electron Microscope Characterization of Spore Appendages of Clostridium bifermentans

Abstract

Two distinct spore appendage types of Clostridium bijermentans, a pinlike appendage and a tubular appendage, were studied by electron microscopy. The pinlike appendage is characterized by a shaft, about 100 A in diameter, which has a lobed caplike structure. The tubular appendage, 500 to 600 A in diameter, is characterized by a hirsute region consisting of small filaments or fibrils. Gross morphology and ultrastructural features of both types are described. Recently, we reported the occurrence of four distinct spore appendage types among 12 strains of Clostridium bifermentans examined (9). In that report, we characterized two of the appendage types, one a smooth tubular appendage (strain 9-SDH) and the other a featherlike appendage (strain 1A-SDH). In the present report, we characterize the remaining two appendage types, a pinlike appendage (strain U-11) and a hirsute tubular appendage (strain FDA-1). In addition, some ultrastructural features of the previously reported smooth tubular appendage of strain 9-SDH are described. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experimental approach and procedures used in the present investigation were identical with those detailed in a previous report (9), and thus only an abbreviated account of these methods is given here. Three strains of C. bifermenttanis were used. Strains U-li and FDA-i were received from Stanley M. Harmon, Food and Drug Administration,

Spore Appendages and Taxonomy of Clostridium sordellii

“…3). The latter structure appears similar to the exosporium of spores of C. bifermentans (9), C. botulinum type F (3), and OS strains of C. botulinum type E (3).…”

Properties and Origin of Filamentous Appendages on Spores of Bacillus cereus

“…Spores of several species of Clostridium have ribbon-like, tubular, feather-like or pin-like appendages (15, 19-22, 24, 27) and most of their appendages have been reported to be attached to the spore coat (15,19,20,24,27) with only the pin-like appendages of Clostridium bifermentans U-11 being attached to the exosporium (27).…”

(Symposium on Bacterial Spores: Paper XIV). Spore Properties of Clostridia Occurring in Cheese

“…These differences can be paralleled with their differences in fermentative characteristics. The possible use of spore morphology as a basis for bacterial taxonomy has been suggested (Krassilnikov, Dude & Pivovavov, 1968;Yolton et al, 1968). From our data on spore morphology, the two strains considered closely related to Cl.…”

“…pectinovorum (Hoeniger & Headley, 1968) and C1. bifermentana (Walker, Thompson & Baillie, 1967 ;Yolton, Pope, Williams & Rode, 1968). However in these 2 species, the spore coat consists of 2 distinct layers.…”