This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jones, H. C. Articles by Sanders, W. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jones, H. C. Articles by Sanders, W. M., III

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Bacteriol. 1969 July; 99(1): 316-325
Copyright © 1969 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Electron Microscopic Study of a Slime Layer

Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30601
Southeast Water Laboratory, U.S. Department of the Interior, Athens, Georgia 30601

ABSTRACT

Slime layers are being studied in our laboratories in an attempt to understand their functions in the control of pollution in natural streams. A method for fixing, staining, and embedding microorganisms in the intact slime has been developed. In this method, epoxy resin discs are placed in a holder and are introduced into a simulated stream. After various periods of time the discs are punched out of the holder into the fixative. The disc with the attached slime is fixed, stained (4% osmium tetroxide plus ruthenium red), dehydrated, and embedded in epoxy resin so that thin sections can be cut through the vertical plane of the slime mass. Such thin sections permit detailed examination of the attached layer, the surface-slime interface, the spatial relationships between cells in the vertical slime structure, and the strands of extracellular material between and around cells. No special attachment structures were noted as the cells appeared to be attached to the surface by extracellular material alone. This material was observed in strands and netlike forms between cells which are positioned 1 to 4 µm apart in the slime.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Saarimaa, C., Peltola, M., Raulio, M., Neu, T. R., Salkinoja-Salonen, M. S., Neubauer, P. (2006). Characterization of Adhesion Threads of Deinococcus geothermalis as Type IV Pili.. J. Bacteriol. 188: 7016-7021 [Abstract] [Full Text]