Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
10:37
Single-cell Microfluidic Analysis of Bacillus subtilis
Published on: January 26, 2018
Fine Structure of Thiobacillus thiooxidans
1Biology Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, and Division of Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York.
Journal of Bacteriology
|August 1, 1966
Summary
The fine structure of Thiobacillus thiooxidans, a unique sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, was examined. Its cell envelope resembles that of gram-negative bacteria, despite its extreme environmental tolerance.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Thiobacillus thiooxidans is a chemosynthetic autotroph.
- It uniquely oxidizes elemental sulfur for energy and uses carbon dioxide as its sole carbon source.
- This bacterium can survive at pH levels below 1.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fine structure of Thiobacillus thiooxidans.
- To compare its cellular structures with other bacteria, particularly gram-negative species.
Main Methods:
- Thin section analysis was performed on Thiobacillus thiooxidans.
- Electron microscopy was used to examine cellular ultrastructure.
Main Results:
- The cell envelope of Thiobacillus thiooxidans showed structures comparable to gram-negative heterotrophic bacteria.
- The cell wall consists of five layers (approx. 200 A width).
- The plasmalemma appears as a conventional unit membrane (approx. 85 A width).
Conclusions:
- Despite its unique physiological traits, Thiobacillus thiooxidans shares a similar cell envelope structure with common gram-negative bacteria.
- Volutin granules and other bodies near the nucleoplasm were observed, but their function remains undetermined.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria
Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
01:25Microbial Mats
Microbial communities forming biofilms and mats represent complex, spatially structured ecosystems where metabolic processes are stratified according to light, oxygen, and nutrient gradients. Biofilms are initial colonization stages, only a few millimeters thick, while mature microbial mats can reach centimeter-scale thickness and display intricate vertical organization. Their structural and functional heterogeneity allows microorganisms to occupy distinct ecological niches within a few...
01:29Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle
Sulfur is a vital element in Earth's biogeochemical systems. It transitions through various inorganic states, including sulfate (SO₄²⁻), elemental sulfur (S⁰), and sulfide (S²⁻). Abiotic and biological mechanisms across oxic and anoxic environments intricately mediate these transformations. Sulfate, the most oxidized form of sulfur, is predominantly stored in rocks, marine sediments, and oceanic waters, acting as a long-term reservoir in the global sulfur cycle.In oxic environments,...
01:28Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria
Anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria are a diverse group of microorganisms that perform photosynthesis without producing oxygen. They primarily include purple sulfur bacteria, purple nonsulfur bacteria, green sulfur bacteria, and green nonsulfur bacteria. These bacteria are classified into the Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Chlorobi, and Chloroflexi lineages, each with distinct physiological and ecological adaptations.Purple sulfur bacteria belong to the...
01:24Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes
The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
01:13Special Staining Techniques
Specialized staining techniques play a vital role in microbiology by enabling the visualization of specific bacterial structures that remain undetectable with standard microscopy methods. These techniques not only enhance the structural visualization of bacterial cells but also provide critical insights into their pathogenicity and classification. Additionally, they support diagnostic and research endeavors in microbiology by identifying key bacterial features.Capsule Staining for Virulence...