Studies on the ultrastructural morphology of Bacteroides nodosus

The morphology of Bacteroides nodosus was examined with the electron microscope. B nodosus stained with solium phosphotungstate and uranyl acetate possessed fimbriae and in addition organisms negatively stained with sodium phosphotungstate often possessed rings on their surface. Phage-like particles were also observed in negatively stained preparations. In thin sections, B nodosus had a multilayered cell envelope and the type of cell division characteristic of Gram-negative bacteria. The cytoplasmic region contained a diffuse nucleoid area, ribosomes and, sometimes, concentrically arranged membranous lamellae. Fimbriae and capsular material were also seen in sections of B nodosus fixed with glutaraldehyde-osmium. Their visualisation appeared to be enhanced when ruthenium red was incorporated n the glutaraldehyde-osmium fixative but only when sections were stained with heavy metal salts, indicating that the fimbriae and capsule were not predominantly polysaccharide in nature.