Short report: Electron microscopic demonstration of extracellular structure of Burkholderia pseudomallei
Puthucheary, S.D.; Vadivelu, J.; Ce-Cile, C.; Kum-Thong, W.; Ismail, G.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 54(3): 313-314
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 8600773 Document Number: 459497
The occurrence of latency and relapse in human melioidosis suggests adaptations by Burkholderia pseudomallei that help to avoid the human immune response. Ruthenium red-stained preparations of bacterial cultures viewed by electron microscopy revealed three morphologically distinct variants; one with a very marked and another with a less electron-dense layer surrounding the cell wall, and a third variety devoid of such a structure. This structure may be attributable to a layer of polysaccharide, suggesting the presence of a glycocalyx that may aid in the survival of the organism during latency.